Art-related climate protests are going mainstream
Images: Just Stop Oil/Reuters/Getty
From tomato soup splattered on a Van Gogh, to cake thrown at a wax statue of King Charles, to mashed potatoes flung at a Monet – young protesters across Europe have been targeting famous works of art with food this month, in an effort to spur action against climate change.
🖼️ A deeper dive… Both of the priceless works of art had protective coverings and weren’t harmed by the stunts, though their frames suffered damage. The King Charles wax statue wasn’t as lucky, ending up with a face full of cake.
- Members of Just Stop Oil, the group behind the protests, said its demonstrations weren’t intended to destroy the art, but rather to gain media attention and pressure governments to halt new fossil fuel licensing and production.
- The group was previously responsible for a spate of similar art-related protests over the summer.
🌎 Zoom out: The protests are set against three major climate reports published this week ahead of COP27, an international climate conference.
- The World Meteorological Organization found atmospheric concentrations of CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide hit all-time highs last year.
- The International Energy Agency found renewable electricity generation reached a global record-high last year, and said the world’s fossil-fuel demand could peak starting later this decade.
- The United Nations estimates the world is on track for a 5.0°F increase in average temperatures by the end of this century, and has “no credible pathway” to keeping the 2.7°F limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
✋ Yes, but… Even if Western nations took drastic action to cut their emissions, it would have a limited overall effect. China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas-emitter, is responsible for 27+% of global emissions, while the US sits at 11%, India makes up 7%, and all 27 EU nations combined account for 6%.
đź“Š Flash poll: Do you think the US government is doing too much, too little, or about the right amount to combat climate change?
See a 360° view of what the media is saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that the increasingly absurd climate demonstrations are proof that governments around the world have failed younger generations when it comes to caring about climate change, leaving them no option but to act out in protest.
- Others argue that climate change is a topic that should be addressed head-on in our nation’s schools, rather than the roundabout and infrequent coverage it usually gets in K-12 classrooms.
- “Increasingly absurd climate protests show how society has failed younger generation” –Finn McRedmond, Irish Times
- “Students are ready to talk about climate change — are you?” –Mark Windschitl, Seattle Times
- “Our view on climate diplomacy: it’s crunch time – again” –The Guardian Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the recent climate protesters are fundamentally misguided and appear to be asking for two separate and opposite things to happen – stop expanding fossil fuels, and stop increasing energy prices.
- Others contend that climate activists should take a lesson from the well known saying: you’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
- “The Contradictions of Climate Activism” –Ross Douthat, NY Times
- “Outlandish climate protests are a privilege” –Danielle Butcher, Washington Examiner
- “Net-zero climate policy offers much pain, little gain” –Bjorn Lomborg, NY Post
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