9 June 2007

Speakers: Heather Morison, artist; Professor Ignazio Musu, professor of Economic Theory, Macroeconomics and Environmental Economics at Ca' Foscari University, Venice and Siân Ede, Arts Director of the UK Branch of the Gulbenkian Foundation
Chaired by RSA Head of Arts, Michaela Crimmin

There is more than enough evidence in place to be convinced that climate change is happening. This is, and increasingly will, impact on people across the world, most particularly and unjustly on those who produce and consume the least.

The effects caused by the way many of us live – resulting in pollution, drought, flooding, waste, coastal erosion, desertification and conflict amongst them - are on the rise. With the majority of the world’s population living by the coast, many of our cities may look more and more like Venice. The city itself is of course no stranger to flooding with 2012 as the scheduled completion date for a new flood barrier system. However this may only be an expensive case of buying time.

As India, China, Russia and Brazil’s economies grow, so will the predicted numbers of art lovers visiting Venice increase. Travel is one of the main culprits in the escalation of climate change. The Venetian School sparked an influx of artists and it’s appreciators in the 15th Century, with the first biennale taking place in 1895. The momentum and energy generated from such a rich past has continued and this year Venice will again be swarming with members of the arts constituency for the 52nd Biennale, each contributing to the overall carbon footprint of the city. Of course it is not just Venice - international travel is an important and integral aspect of our lives so how do we reconcile the pros and cons? 

This event brought together artists with people in other disciplines and explored how the international arts constituency, individually and collectively, can respond to environmental challenges.

PDF Downloads: Ignazio Musu Biography;  Heather Morison Report; and  Sian Ede's Report