For over four decades, he said scientists have been giving warnings, but economics and politics have prevented any transitions.

“We have forgotten that we are embedded in nature, and we are utterly dependent on nature,” he said, adding we use human constructs as the reason we no longer act in our best interests.

He shared an experience from the 1980s when he had been asked to help protect a sacred valley after the British Colombian government gave permits to log there.

Suzuki had an accidental run in with the CEO of the logging company and their conversation escalated to a screaming match.

“He finally said, listen Suzuki, are tree-huggers like you willing to pay for those trees? Because if you are not willing to pay for them, they don’t have any value to us,” said Suzuki. “That was an epiphany for me, because I realized he’s absolutely right.”

While the forest helped provide oxygen, prevented erosion and offered a community for other species, those do not have value in economics, he said.

“As long as we stay arguing in an economic system, we are going to lose because the important aspects in those ecosystems are not included in that conversation,” he said.

People have created an illusion that everything is OK by using the legacy of future generations, he argued.

“We are overpopulated; the planet cannot sustain us in the manner that we are living now,” he said. “That is neither sustainable or intelligent.”

He said people need to be politically active and vocal, and he urged residents to ensure elected leaders “think about our children and grandchildren and make some big decisions.”



