Carbon is an intriguing element; the only one that animates the entire living world.  Manifesting in coal and diamonds, it displays a host of different properties because of its ability to bond easily. One vital example is carbon-dioxide, which allows plants to photosynthesize and thus enables us to breathe. Though carbon comprises a tiny fraction of Earth’s composition, our planet is lifeless without it.

According to Diana Beresford-Kroeger the secret to our survival lies in earth’s boreal forests (see OUR GREEN HEART: The Soul & Science of Forests) for they are the lungs of the planet. “Forests are cathedrals that present humanity with numerous divine gifts including the source of the planet’s potential salvation.  The forest is far more than a source of timber.  It is our collective medicine cabinet. It is the regulatory system for our climate and our oceans.  It is the health and well-being of our children and grandchildren. It is the mantle of our planet and our sacred home.”

But carbon gets a bad rap these days, according to author and environmentalist Paul Hawken, who urges us to widen our perception and response to the climate crisis.  Too often carbon is maligned as the “driver” of climate change and blamed for the possible demise of civilization.  However, this narrative is erroneous and misleading. As a veteran environmentalist and author, Hawken looks at the flow of life through the lens of carbon. Embracing a panoramic view of carbon’s omnipresence, he explores how this ubiquitous and essential element extends into every aperture of existence and shapes the entire fabric of life. Hawken charts a course across our planetary history, guiding us into the realms of plants, animals, insects, fungi, food, and farms to offer a new narrative for embracing carbon’s life-giving power and its possibilities for the future of human endeavor.

Hawken’s latest book, Carbon: The Book of Life illuminates the subtle connections between carbon and our collective human experience and suggests we see nature, carbon, and ourselves as exquisitely intertwined -inseparably connected.

Speakers

Paul Hawken

 is a bestselling author and leading voice calling for the regeneration of nature and humanity. He has authored nine books, including The Ecology of Commerce, Blessed Unrest, and Regeneration.  He is the founder of projects Drawdown and Regeneration, who consults with NGOs, governments, and corporations worldwide. He and his wife live in Northern California with coyotes, foxes, bobcats, ravens, flocks of  red-tailed hawks, and pileated woodpeckers.