Too Hot to Handle? R. Jisung Park on the Quiet Disruption & Division of Climate Change

Climate change isn’t just about melting glaciers and rising sea levels—it’s a slow-motion economic crisis reshaping our world in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Dr. R. Jisung Park, economist, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of Slow Burn, is at the forefront of uncovering its hidden costs.

From declining worker productivity and rising inequality to disruptions in education and economic mobility, Park’s research reveals how extreme heat is quietly eroding opportunity—hitting the most vulnerable communities the hardest. But unlike doomsayers or climate contrarians, Park takes a realist approach, challenging outdated economic models and offering fresh, actionable solutions.

Join us on Monday, 24 March at 13:00 in E-Hall for a thought-provoking conversation that goes beyond alarmism or denial to explore how we can rethink climate policy— because the heat isn’t just rising, it’s reshaping our world.