06-02, 12:00–12:25 (Europe/Prague), Root Stage
Existential risks — risks to humanity’s survival — tend to trigger one of two responses in people: “Technology will save us!” or “Destroy technology before it destroys us and the planet!”. Solarpunk is green yet techno-optimistic. What can it teach us?
Existential risks like asteroids, nuclear war, and engineered pandemics could threaten humanity’s existence. Discussions of existential risk often involve speculations about transhumanism, Artificial Superintelligence, and nanotechnology. However, these kinds of discussions can overlook the existential threats posed by climate change, especially how future technologies could exacerbate or mitigate climate change (and vice versa). Solarpunk, with its vision of a techno-optimistic yet ecologically sustainable future, could help us to bridge this divide. How can decentralized cryptocurrencies like Ethereum help or hinder these efforts?
Mel's research looks at global catastrophic risk, futures, emerging technologies, and their interactions with contemporary religion. They also co-run a reading group covering different perspectives on the long-term future. Mel holds a BA in History, specialising in religion and politics, as well as an MPhil in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion from the University of Cambridge.