Events

‘The Hurt Locker’ meets ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, The Age of Consequences investigates the impacts of climate change on increased resource scarcity, migration, and conflict through the lens of US national security and global stability. Through unflinching case-study analysis, distinguished admirals, generals and military veterans take us beyond the headlines of the conflict in Syria, the social unrest of the Arab Spring, the rise of radicalized groups like ISIS, and the European refugee crisis – and lay bare how climate change stressors interact with societal tensions, sparking conflict. Whether a long-term vulnerability or sudden shock, the film unpacks how water and food shortages, drought, extreme weather, and sea-level rise function as ‘accelerants of instability’ and ‘catalysts for conflict’ in volatile regions of the world. These Pentagon insiders make the compelling case that if we go on with business as usual, the consequences of climate change – waves of refugees, failed states, terrorism – will continue to grow in scale and frequency, with grave implications for peace and security in the 21st century. The film’s unnerving assessment is by no means reason for fatalism – but instead a call to action to rethink how we use and produce energy. As in any military defense and security strategy, time is our most precious resource.

Following the film screening join us for a panel discussion featuring executive producer Sophie Robinson. Sophie is a former grassroots climate organizer who has changed paths to pursue filmmaking for social change. She coordinated 350 Massachusetts – one of the leading statewide climate networks in the country– for two years at climate change nonprofit Better Future Project. Sophie has Psychology and Environmental Science degrees from Williams College, and is currently working toward a masters degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard.

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Co-sponsored by the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society