Here’s the thing: we know the planet is changing, maybe faster than we can change with it—and every so often, someone comes along who helps us see just how much is on the line. That someone is Bill McKibben. He didn’t invent environmentalism, but he brought it into the bloodstream of public discourse: his 1989 book The End of Nature is often credited as the first mainstream book about climate change.
In a world of cyborg-doom headlines and abstract megatons of carbon, McKibben’s voice remains grounded: forest trails, cold rivers, hometowns at risk, and the culture built around them—all under threat. He founded 350.org, the first global grassroots campaign targeting the “safe” concentration of carbon dioxide in the air.
On this evening he’ll bring his latest book into the room, unspooling what he calls the fresh chance we may have for civilization—and the fresh urgency required. Why attend? Because this isn’t just another lecture. It’s a gathering of minds and commitment: a moment to connect the dots between the Hudson Valley’s landscapes — its woods, rivers, farms, towns — and the larger planetary game. McKibben makes you see that the local matters just as much as the global; that New York’s flyover counties and the Adirondack wetlands are part of the same story. Whether you’re a climate veteran or just curious what might still be possible, this talk offers clarity and truth without moralizing haze.
Mark it down. Bring your questions. Usual distractions will feel inadequate afterward.
