Julien Vincent: Individuals Make Market Forces
Through collective action individuals can strong-hand financial institutions into divesting from environmentally damaging projects. Winner of the 2022 Goldman Environmental prize, Julien Vincent, explains how climate advocacy revolves around bringing the right information and solutions to the right people at the right time.
The Most Powerful Weapon of Change
Is generating more energy with less emissions a farfetched utopia? Far from it, international expert Pia Løvengreen Alessi shows us the faces behind the emerging technical, organisational, and behavioural revolution that has the force to change the world. A revolution involving younger generations, over a billion people without access to energy, as well as present and future global leaders. A revolution that is being carried forward with what Nelson Mandela called the most powerful weapon of change.
Methane: A Key to Unlocking the Climate Crisis
Scientists, experts, and policymakers: the eyes of the world are turning towards methane, a potent greenhouse gas the mitigation of which is one of the single most effective short-term actions for fighting climate change. What avenues are open for implementing effective strategies? Analysts and researchers weigh in on the international debate.
Climate Issues at the UN General Assembly
From deadly flooding in Pakistan to the energy crisis and climate justice, the 77th session of the UN General Assembly will have to face climate issues notwithstanding the overarching shadow of war.
The Climate Stories Stored in Trees
What does uncovering the mysteries surrounding sunken ships have in common with understanding our climate? Both involve looking at tree cores and studying the historical archives contained within their inner rings. Dendrochronology, literally the study of tree time, offers a view into the past that provides vital information about our present and future.
Solving the Energy Crisis With Renewables
With the price of crude oil reaching its highest level in over a decade and the cost of natural gas skyrocketing, policymakers are faced with a choice: double down on fossil fuels or add urgency to the clean energy transition? Although most agree investing in renewables is the more logical solution, others are pushing for fossil fuel infrastructure, potentially locking the world into “irreversible warming” and creating a mass of stranded assets.
A collection of words with which we hope to plant the seeds of awareness, providing in-depth definitions of some of the most pressing topics related to climate change.
Because understanding the discourse that surrounds the climate crisis is the key to a sustainable future.
Carbon Market
Giving a price to carbon means innovation, technological deployment, and profound changes in the economic system. However, the costs of a low-carbon transition will not be felt equally by all. Trading emissions in a carbon market allows us to start cutting emissions where it is cheapest whilst leaving room for the most virtuous to make gains. Origins and evolutions of a flexible and cost-effective policy with almost 20 years of history.
Carbon Border Adjustments
As countries implement measures to curb emissions they are also looking to protect local industry players from unfair competition and ensure that emissions aren’t simply shifted outside of their jurisdiction. Carbon border adjustments use levies and rebates to do just that. How do they work and why are they contentious?
Digital Twin
By connecting the real and virtual worlds digital twins help create, test and deploy the disruptive technologies and ideas needed to respond to the climate crisis at an unprecedented pace. A look at how experts such as Peter Bauer, Director of Destination Earth at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, are using digital twins to help plan and define the future.
Bringing Data Driven Stories to Life with Zack Labe
“Think outside the box and set aside any pre-set model for climate change communication.” A conversation with climate scientist and storyteller Zack Labe, who is giving a growing and ever-more active Twitter audience direct access to climate change data and research through compelling visualizations.
Emotions and Science: Juli Berwald Finds Hope in Coral Reefs
Her latest book “Life on the rocks” is a collection of factual and engaging stories about corals. As a marine biologist and writer Juli Berwald brings her unique perspective and sense of wonder for coral reefs to the reader, sharing stories of her personal struggles and hope in the face of adversity. Why? Because “people act on their feelings”.
Andrew Winston: Net Positive Business for a Net Zero Future
In a low carbon future, businesses that profit from solving the world’s problems, rather than causing them, will play a central role. Co-author of the Financial Times Best Business Book of the Year “Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take”, Andrew Winston, explains the win-win formula for people, planet and profits.
Ashley Cooper: Framing the Climate with the Power of Imagery
14 years of expeditions, 30 countries, 7 continents, 50,000 images. Environmental photographer and author of “Images From a Warming Planet” brings a wealth of experience to the art of capturing climate change. Yet, it isn’t just about taking pictures of the impacts and destruction. It’s also about highlighting the science and solutions that motivate climate action.
Between Art and Science
By Fabio Cian
Photography has the power to inform and provide a vision of reality that is coloured with emotions and beauty. It can also help raise awareness about the climate crisis, bringing people closer to one of the most important issues of our time through novel interpretations of the past, present and future.
The “Hot Model” Problem: From Democracy to Meritocracy
The latest generation of climate models that predict future temperatures and their impacts present what some researchers have defined as the “hot model problem”. The solution may be to shift from model democracy to model meritocracy.
Heatwaves or the New Normal? Global Media Analyses and Reactions
Record-breaking temperatures in Europe, heat advisory in the US, and peaks in electricity consumption in China. Media outlets and climate change communicators across the world are pointing to links between the ongoing heatwaves and climate change, just as researchers are working to make the science behind extreme weather attribution more robust.
Vulnerable Giants: Mountain Tourism at a Turning Point
A mix of high-resolution data, advanced research, participative interactions with local communities and supporting natural and spiritual heritage. This is the starting point to design resilience strategies and plan more sustainable solutions for mountain tourism, a sector that accounts for 15-20% of global tourism.
Visualizing Climate Science
A participatory approach is the foundation for building solutions that empower citizens, policymakers, experts, and non-experts to make informed decisions. Co-designing data visualizations that reflect the findings made with climate science is key to reach the right audiences and foster change. Data visualization explained by Angela Morelli, the information designer that contributed to the most recent Summaries for Policymakers published by the IPCC.
Unheard Voices: Climate Change as a Matter of Social Justice
by Ella Healy and Ana Ross
Inequalities exacerbated by climate change cannot be communicated without involving the frontline communities experiencing its worst impacts. Effective communication strategies serve to eradicate – rather than perpetuate – these inequalities, and offer a more nuanced, empowered representation of those most vulnerable to climate change.
More with Less. Visual Stories of Energy Poverty
by Marco Garofalo
A camera can shine light on some of the main global problems and inequalities. Photo reporter Marco Garofalo, author of the project Energy Portraits, shares his story of documenting the importance of modern energy access for human development in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Bolivia and India. Looking for “the best, most human, most comprehensible way” to tell the story of energy poverty.
Interwoven Crises at the World Economic Forum
Environmental, Social, and Governance, carbon markets and unfolding global crises were at the core of the agenda as leaders juggled priorities whilst looking at the role of science in future policy decisions. Foresight’s collection of key contributions, commentaries and media takeaways from Davos.
Food: The Story of Climate Change is Written in our Changing Menus
Flavours of wine will be different, chocolate prices will rise, nutritional quality and yields of several crops will decline. Food offers unlimited stories to bring the perception of climate change closer to people, from the challenges facing our favourite foods to a different narration that highlights solutions and the value of science. A climate change and food scientist, a freelance writer, and a once-upon-a-time professional chef have put in place an effective mix of multiple modes of communication that can motivate people to join forces for climate action along the food supply chain.