In 1968, experts warned that hundreds of millions of people would die of starvation. Yet, as Sir Andrew Steer reminded the audience of this in his TD Walter Bean Public Lecture, the grim prediction never came true. Instead, as the world’s population doubled, food production tripled. An outcome that was far from accidental.
“The problem was solved,” he said. “What all the experts got wrong was the fact that human ingenuity with the right combination of leadership, citizen engagement, scientific endeavor, and the right university engagement, you can change the world in amazing ways.”
Sir Andrew Steer brought this message to the University of Waterloo on September 29, in his lecture, The Courage to Act, supported by TD. It was a timely discussion as global concern over climate change reaches new heights.
New data suggests global temperatures could rise by 3.1°C, surpassing earlier estimates of 2.7°C, as population and economic growth accelerate human impact. Drawing on his experience with the Bezos Earth Fund, the World Bank, and the UK Department for International Development, Steer laid bare humanity’s growing footprint, what we extract, produce, consume, and discard, and what it means.
“In the 20th century our footprint increased twenty times in a hundred years. That’s because the economy was growing at roughly three per cent a year. If you compound three per cent for a hundred years you get 20 times. This century is the same, so in two centuries 400 times the human footprint.”
“If we keep going like this, we will run into a problem that’s unstoppable. That’s not to say we shouldn’t have 20 times as much prosperity, but what it does mean is we can’t have 20 times as much taking, making, wasting.”
But despite the bleak reality, Steer emphasized the story is not all bad. He reminded the audience that over the last century some major milestones have been achieved, including the biggest reduction in global poverty, global life expectancy has almost doubled and the middle class has risen. With this in mind, he shared five lessons for how we as leaders, innovators and communities can solve this wicked problem and scale solutions for a sustainable future.
- Offer a narrative of hope. The environmental movement has not always done a good job on that front; often focusing on the negative narrative. This moment calls for us to lean into a positive vision for the future. As an example, there is economic value to having livable, walkable cities.
- Focus on systems, not silver bullets. We need systemic changes that honour both people and planet.
- Look for disruptive ingenuity and tipping points. Remember that technology moves faster than we think. In 15 years, Fifth Avenue in New York went from solely horse and buggy to all automobiles. With the right leadership and innovation, we could scale our climate change solutions.
- Seek to understand people and act on that understanding. We must strive to foster inclusive, collaborative environments that empower us to learn from one another and grow together.
- Get the right hands on deck. We need a coalition of the right people collectively acting together.
Following his lecture, Dr. Leia Minaker joined Steer on stage for a wide-ranging conversation that dug deeper into his lecture. Together they explored the complexity of the climate challenge, discussing battery storage improvements as one key tipping point to watch for, the role of tariffs in stalling progress, and whether climate activists risk their own form of denial when confronting difficult trade-offs.
Dr. Leia Minaker and Sir Andrew Steer in conversation with the audience.
The discussion underscored a central truth: the opportunities before us demand courage, vision and collaboration that transcends borders and disciplines. They invite us not only to act, but to do so with foresight, evidence, and humility. Meeting the world’s toughest environmental challenges is, at its heart, an opportunity to harness knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and move forward together with purpose and hope.
In addition to the evening public lecutre, Steer also spoke with 400+ high school students about how their generation can lead change working with the world, for the world.
Dr. Andrew Steer speaking with high school students during the Q&A.
Building the knowledge and skills necessary for society to address complex environmental issues, the TD Walter Bean Professorship aims to attract outstanding international and national leaders and researchers to campus to give public lectures, teach classes, and meet with professors and students. Described as a fitting testament to the late Walter Bean’s legacy of community involvement and commitment to youth, education and community, the professorship is made possible thanks to the generosity of TD Canada Trust and their commitment to building a sustainable future together with their partners.
Bruce Frayne, Dean of the Faculty of Environment, welcoming Sir Andrew to the stage.
Jean Becker, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations, delivering opening remarks.
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Nicole Vadori, Vice-President and Head of Environment, TD Bank Group delivering opening remarks.
Sir Andrew Steer delivering his keynote.
Sir Andrew Steer delivering his high school lecture.
Sir Andrew Steer delivering his high school lecture.
Sir Andrew Steer and Eryn Stewart, Managing Director of the Future Cities Institute, in conversation.
Sir Andrew Steer with teachers and representatives from high schools across Ontario.
