What we need, is a new Industrial Revolution accompanied by a cultural revolution.
These past two days I participated in Tipping Point, a climate conference where artists and scientists meet, think and brainstorm about possible actions, interventions, … to enhance a change of mentality with the majority of the world population.
This population seems to know about climate change, but not necessarily about the catastrophical size of this climate change or the disastrous results that it brings along.
Two days are hardly enough for such a meeting to result into world shocking plans. The meeting between scientists and artists was more of an inspirational, and for both parties often revealing, experience. Artists are excited about the direct access to correct data scientists can offer them. Scientists realize that artists can be a catalyst through the visualization and artistic interpretation of the scientific content. Most scientists present agreed on the fact that artists can make the difference in the fight against – or rather our dealing with – climate change.
It would be impossible to post entire conversations or all the ideas that came out of the (closed) conference. Nevertheless, I will write down a few interesting quotes, metaphors, discussion topics and facts that I came across.
Scientific facts & figures and goals:
- The (tiny bit of) good news is that the global economical crisis has lowered the growth of our emissions.
- 2005 was the warmest year, 2009 the 2nd warmest (NASA data) - 2010 will become the warmest year
- Greenland is losing mass a lot faster than the IPCC has predicted
When Greenland collapses, the sea level will rise with 7 meters
- COP15: the only thing that has come out of COP15 is the acknowledgement that the temperature rise should stay beneath 2°C; that this is the goal
- Staying underneath 2° C means: we can probably avoid the ‘Tipping Point’ (which is the starting point of a number of domino effects)
But TIME is ESSENTIAL.
- We need to have an emission peak before 2020, otherwise the temperature rise is irreversible
- Within the next 10 years, we need a new Industrial Revolution. However, the previous Industrial Revolution took us a 100 years, and now we would have to do it within 10 years. This means that this Industrial Revolution has to be empowered by a cultural revolution
- From now on, everyone should attempt to use no more than 2 ton CO² per person per year (that’s an 80 % reduction). Cf. one plane travel (1 person) = 2 tons of CO² emission
Interesting quotes and thoughts
“Why care about the future generations? What have they done for us?”
“Our conservative behaviour is killing us in the future”
“How absurd is it that people go to such a length to give their children the best education, food, schools, etc. but that they don’t do any efforts for giving the next generation a livable future?”
“Every human being that considers itself to be ‘committed’, fighting the good cause, should act now!”
‘No acces to correct or decent information’ is no valid excuse. Everyone who wants to listen can perfectly well find enough information about climate change; there is enough evidence you cannot avoid.
“150 years ago we started a fight against ‘paradise’ (‘paradise’ in terms of climate), and now we are losing that fight and we would like to stop climate change.”
Global civil society has to take global protection in their own hands, because the government is not going to do it (conclusion of COP15).
Creativity as a tool for adaptation
How can we change hearts and minds of people towards less consumption?
–> We need to boost creativity to find solutions to the problems of life, to develop a strategy for global change, climate change and greener economy.
–> You will have to convey an emotional message because you cannot solve it with science (in order to change things, we need creativity).
–> How can you persuade people? By making them experience (cf. Transition Town idea).
Scientists communicate with politicians. But you can never be sure of how politicians will act.
Artists communicate with people, and therefore art is extremely important in the process of mentality change.
Some of the subjects we discussed:
- Victims of climate change: should we found a climate refugee republic for them?
- Inspirational stories. Examples of organizations who are doing things. What works?
- How to overcome (national) borders?
- How do we engage young people in the fight against climate change?
- How to stop worrying and learn to love carbon rationing?
- Can shame be creative?
- Science & society: the role of science and how to give voice to the people?
- Preaching to the converted
Many thanks to the organization of Tipping Point, the British Council, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), the Kaaitheater, deBuren.
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(Theo Jansen/ foto: Loek van der Klis)
