The Age of Consequences

The Age of Consequences (2016)

Directed by Jared P Scott, 80 mins

Wednesday 20 October 17:30 BST plus panel discussion

The Hurt Locker meets An Inconvenient Truth

Emmy-nominated, The Age of Consequences is the investigation of climate change impacts 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 defence and security strategy, time is our most precious resource.

The panel discussion after the screening was moderated by Professor Alan Dangour, Director of the Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Alan was joined by Betty Jahateh, Programme Director at the Great Institute, The Gambia, Sariba Jammeh, MRC The Gambia, Mbali Gwacela, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Gio Dalla Libera Marchiori, Health Care Without Harm.

Here's the replay: