A simple numerical argument cuts through much of the confusion over greenhouse gas emissions. It reveals ‘business as usual’ to be untenable and so opens the way for action on climate change. In short, fossil fuel companies have already discovered more oil, gas and coal than can safely be used. We simply can't burn it all if we want to keep below the threshold (max 2°C of global warming) agreed by virtually ever country in the world, including the USA.
Summary of the current situation. The blue cube, which is over 65 miles across, is the total volume of all the carbon dioxide gas in the air in 1750 (before the growth of fossil fuels). The light pink volume is the extra, man-made carbon dioxide in the air now. The dark pink volume is the amount of carbon dioxide that would enter the atmosphere if the declared fuel reserves of fossil fuel companies were ever used. The red line indicates the point at which the warming would be greater than 2 °C.
Carbon Visuals would like to create a simple video that can reach a wide audience yet have a profound impact. It will express key numbers from the Unburnable Carbon Report produced by the London based Carbon Tracker Initiative. Data from this report also form the basis for an article by Bill McKibben in Rolling Stone magazine.
The report was aimed at the investment community; this film is for everyone else. It will make it feel real, not just a load of numbers.
Carbon Visuals has produced graphics for a 350.org tour: Do The Math, which reached thousands of Americans. Now we want to bring the same message to millions of people around the world. We believe this is a rare opportunity to address a wide audience with a simple, but powerful message that can (finally) change the landscape of debate over climate change.
To maximise its impact and reach, and to ensure it is shared amongst as wide an audience as possible, we intend to adopt very high production values.
For more details or to see the full proposal contact Carbon Visuals CEO, Antony Turner
One of the graphics Carbon Visuals produced for 350.org was selected for the 'The year in graphs' feature in the Washington Post, and appeared on their front page.
Carbon Visuals