Environment

Climate action now

Two large ice blocks captured the public's attention at the United Nations’ climate change conference in Poznan, Poland. The European Commission's exhibition was designed to show the effects of climate change on our planet.

With the conference talks providing a crucial step in ongoing negotiations to reach a future international agreement to fight climate change, the exhibition aimed to underline the urgent need for action. The message was clear: our choices on energy and technology today will determine the future of our planet.

The ice blocks symbolised the consequences of climate change and higher global temperatures, including melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels. The exhibition presented two blocks of ice melting at different rates.

The first cube, with the EU logo inside, melted much more slowly than the second cube. It represented a situation in which EU proposals on greenhouse gas emissions reductions and energy savings had been implemented. Although water levels rose, they did not reach dangerous levels.

The second cube that melted more quickly illustrated the catastrophic consequences of taking no action against climate change.

Polish members of the Climate Broadcasters Network-Europe – Marek Horczyczak, Jarosław Kret and Tomasz Zubilewicz – presented special weather forecasts next to the ice cubes exhibition on 1 and 2 December, during which they explained the impacts of climate change and gave tips to the public on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy in daily life. These weather forecasts, which were broadcast by the Polish channels – TVP1, Polsat News, TVN Meteo and TVN24 – had an audience of over 8 million people.

 

Top