Eero Paloheimo, a designer, politician, and university professor, has authored eight books and numerous articles

Eero Paloheimo, a designer, politician, and university professor, has authored eight books and numerous articles on future prospects and environmental issues. In his lectures, he stresses the urgency of shifting our perspective within decades: from humanity being the "disease" to becoming the "doctor" for the planet.

Paloheimo proposes two key strategies for global change. The first is "first aid." The second, "user (consumer) healthcare," addresses the need to design products that function properly and to plan new, sustainable cities, moving beyond current unsustainable production practices.

Ocean explorer Robert Ballard unveils hidden underwater worlds, revealing unexpected life, resources, and new mountains. His expeditions highlight the vast, unexplored depths of our

Ocean explorer Robert Ballard unveils hidden underwater worlds, revealing unexpected life, resources, and new mountains. His expeditions highlight the vast, unexplored depths of our planet.

Ballard advocates for serious exploration and mapping of these crucial environments. He implicitly asks if tools like Google Ocean (now part of Google Earth) could further this vital research.

John Fullerton, founder of the Capital Institute, argues that

John Fullerton, founder of the Capital Institute, argues that climate change is a symptom of a "full-world economy."

He expressed this view in an April 2010 interview with Daniel Erasmus at King's College.

Robert Costanza directs the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State

Robert Costanza directs the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State University. He is also a co-founder and past-president of the International Society for Ecological Economics.

In his presentation, Dr. Costanza discusses sustainability, covering its definition and the processes required to develop solutions for a better, more sustainable world.

Dr. Peter G. Brown, Professor of Geography at McGill University, discusses key points from his book, "Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy," co-authored with Geoffrey

Dr. Peter G. Brown, Professor of Geography at McGill University, discusses key points from his book, "Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy," co-authored with Geoffrey Garver.

He argues that our current economic system, which assumes endless growth and limitless wealth, ignores Earth's finite resources. This leads to increasing environmental destruction and growing, sometimes lethal, tension between rich and poor, global north and south.

Piecemeal solutions are insufficient. We need a comprehensive new economic vision that serves both people and all of life's commonwealth.

Global warming is an undeniable reality, yet government and society show limited action to combat it. Economist Frank Ackerman critiques standard economic models, which assess the global cost of

Global warming is an undeniable reality, yet government and society show limited action to combat it. Economist Frank Ackerman critiques standard economic models, which assess the global cost of protection versus destruction, for their incomplete cost-benefit analysis.

This discussion took place at an event hosted by The Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future on April 28, 2009.