The Climate Reality Project - VU Amsterdam
Approaching humanity’s greatest hurdle yet to overcome, we are increasingly urged to ask ourselves the question of “Whose responsibility is it anyway?”. Since the Industrial Revolution, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased steadily, with global temperatures expected to continue to rise unless serious measures are taken. Otherwise, humanity will have to face the severe consequences of climate change - such as heat waves, sea level rise, heavy rainfall and droughts. If no immediate large-scale action is taken, the environmental burden will continue to intensify, further affecting the entire planet and future generations. That’s why we dare to ask - Whose responsibility is it to curb infinite consumption on a planet with finite resources? Whose responsibility is it to take care of refugees driven from their countries by environmental crises and wars over dwindling resources? Whose responsibility is it to make sure that low-lying countries, on the front line of climate change, are protected? Should governments or corporations take the lead? Or does the duty to act fall on the shoulders of NGOs, academia or even ourselves as individuals?
Responsibility is a double-edged sword: If left on their own, individuals tend to stick to life-long habits and patterns, ultimately failing to realize the rapid societal turnaround needed. But if on the other hand, responsibility is solely shifted to governments or corporates, might people not renounce their individual responsibility altogether? After all, it is easy to point fingers and blame others for one’s own inertia - so, what is it that we can actually do? Who can have the biggest impact and how does individual action even enter into that equation? Yet, while asking these questions is easy - answering them is certainly not. Join us on February 15th, the national “Warm Sweater Day” in the search for answers, inspired by Al Gore’s presentation and a panel discussion with experts on the dynamics of climate change and its solutions.
( The Climate Reality Project conference will take place on February 15 at the VU in Amsterdam in Lecture Hall KC07 (Main Building).
