Emeritus Professor Guy McPherson from the US is back to talk about abrupt temperature rises and species extinction

He's been called a doomsdayer and worse for good reason: He's the guy who says all humans will be dead in 10 years.

And since his arrival in New Zealand for a Hamilton talk about the end of the human species, climate change specialist Guy McPherson has seen hate mail pour into his inbox.

But his response is that the Earth's fate is our fate and we need to accept that.

"There has never been a case like this where you have avoided your own personal dying, but I am open to miracles," McPherson said.

READ MORE:

* Ten things you need to know about climate change

* New Zealand ratifies Paris Agreement to combat climate change

* Opinion: Climate change education missing in New Zealand curriculum

* Adapt or die: Climate change puts pressure on NZ's paua

* Climate change 'most serious' environmental issue for New Zealand - report

​The hate mail goes with the territory, though, particularly when you add a 10-year time frame to the discussion.

That's right. The University of Arizona emeritus professor says in 10 years, humans will cease to exist. Abrupt rises in temperature have us on course for the sixth mass extinction - similar to one that happened about 252 million years ago that culminated in the "great dying".

That event was the worst of the mass extinction events in our planet's history and saw all complex life cease, leaving microbes and fungi to rule the planet.

"I think we are heading for something like that this time around, too," McPherson said.

"I just don't see how very complex, very complicated organisms that depend upon so many other species, such as humans, I just don't see how we get through that."

So far, responses in New Zealand have ranged from anger to acceptance.

Of those turning up to hear him speak, most are already open to his ideas.

"I'm speaking to the choir at some level," he said.

As a biological scientist, he said he has a responsibility to present the evidence and help people cope with the diagnosis.

"If you have been given a terminal diagnosis, and I believe we have as a species, then how do we act as individuals towards those around us?"

* Emeritus Professor Guy McPherson will be speaking in Event Room One at the Bill Gallagher Centre, Wintec Campus, Hamilton, on Monday, November 28, at 6pm. The talk is free.

* Comments have now closed.