Our climate is determined by the interactions between internal mechanisms (plate tectonics) and the receipt and processing of solar radiation. For most of geologic time that has conditioned a world much warmer than the current one with a larger greenhouse effect. Contemporary global warming reflects our inadvertent interference with the natural balance, mostly through the burning of fossil fuels. So far mean global temperature has increased by only 1.5 C over the last 70 years, but climate models predict that the world will warm by as much as 4C by 2100. What impact will that have? Can we stop it happening? Can we redress the situation?

Tony Davis is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Geography, University of Toronto. He labels himself as an environmental historian. His research focussed on the reconstruction of past environments using pollen analysis. Much of this work supported archeological investigations. His passion is teaching. Since his retirement he has become very active with lifelong learning groups in Mississauga, Etobicoke and with the group at Innis College. Recently he has presented a series of lectures on climate change to Third Age Learning groups in Burlington and Guelph.