The climate crisis is not fair, just, or sensible. In fact, the climate crisis is as unequal as poverty and racial prejudices. According to research from The Guardian, “The wealthiest 1% of the world’s population were responsible for the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the poorer half of the world from 1990 to 2015,” proving that climate change and monetary status go hand in hand.
The issue with these two seemingly separate issues is that people in communities of color and working-class communities are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change, despite being the populations that are contributing the least to it.
Do The Green Thing, founded in 2007, was founded by Andy Hobsbawm and Naresh Ramchandani and is run out of Pentagram Design’s London office, where Naresh is a Partner. The group has partnered with creatives ranging from David Shrigley to Paula Scher to Sir Paul Smith to imagine and design films, posters, podcasts, and products to inspire people to live and lead more environmentally friendly lives.
The powerful team recently created an exhibition that showcases the work of 24 Black artists and artists of color that explores the relationship between racial and climate prejudices. Launched October 31st and continuing through November 2nd, in Glasgow, the exhibit almost acts as a visual aid to Do The Green Thing’s issue ‘The Colour of the Climate Crisis‘ by journalist and activist Minnie Rahman.
Within the issue, the quote, “Fine, disasters do not discriminate but – as people, we do. The climate crisis is racist because it exists in a system that is racist.
As with any crisis – whether that’s the COVID-19 pandemic, flooding or fires – it is much harder to keep yourself safe and protected if you are already at a disadvantage. All of this means that across the world, white people are more protected, secure and safe from the life-threatening impacts of a changing environment,” stands out the most.
The visuals in the exhibit are strong, powerful, and truly make you dissect the issues presented thought by thought from wildly different perspectives. Each piece is moving in its own way, and it’s fascinating to see how each artist showcases their beliefs through art and design.
