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I understandWe need rapid and urgent action now to address the climate, nature and justice crisis. Meaningful change and action will happen if rooted in the understanding that:
Climate change is a systemic issue, interconnected with social, political and economic factors, all of which drive its causes and effects.
We are overexploiting and damaging the ecosystems upon which we depend and losing biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. Climate change leads to biodiversity losses, which in turn leads to further climate change. We cannot solve one without the other.
The climate and nature crisis change disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people and communities, those least responsible and less equipped to adapt to its consequences. Its impacts exacerbate the inequity and injustices in which this crisis is rooted. As such, climate justice needs to be an integral part of climate action.
The creative and cultural community has a unique and crucial role to play in acting on the climate, nature and justice crisis. The essence of who we think we are - cultural values, narratives, identities, myths and metaphors – are captured in artistic and cultural expressive forms, and located in cultural practice and places. Transforming cultural place and practice to meet the scale of this emergency with energy and inspiration can have an exponentially powerful effect far beyond our immediate environment.
"Making the changes needed to tackle our greatest global challenge will require paying attention to culture as it manifests in our past, our present, and how we imagine and make our future."
The screen sector must take meaningful positive action on the climate, nature and justice
crisis. It is crucial it adapts, builds resilience, and responds to the concerns of its audiences
and communities, telling stories which help them understand why it is so important to act,
and showing how we can do it. The BFI already recognises this, as evidenced by the
inclusion of environmental sustainability as one of three principles which underpin its Screen
Culture 2033 strategy and its National Lottery Strategy 2023-2033. Read more about BFI’s
environmental sustainability principle here and its declaration on climate and ecological
emergency here.
"Cultural audiences are very concerned about the impact of climate change – film audiences even more so.
81% of cultural audiences, which gave film as the main artform they engage with, think cultural organisations have a responsibility to influence society to make radical change in response to the climate emergency."
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