The climate crisis poses an existential threat and urgently demands global cooperation. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, 196 nations committed to a framework that would limit global heating to 2 degrees, a critical threshold for avoiding catastrophic climate breakdown. At the time, Paris was hailed as a historic breakthrough and turning point for saving life on Earth. But today, that sense of possibility seems long gone. Nothing in the last 5 years has suggested any substantial change to address the underlying root causes of the crisis. On the contrary, carbon emissions, mining, and deforestation are all on the rise.
On Sunday, world leaders will gather at COP26 in Glasgow to assess the Paris treaty and discuss next steps. But the rhetoric of hope, reassurance and “green capitalism” disguises an obvious truth: that there's no way to prevent ecological and climatic collapse as long we stay in a system that's bound to exponential economic growth. Even if we completely decarbonized our economy within the next few years, yet would continue mining and consuming ever more, we would still push the Earth over critical planetary boundaries. At this point, we either work toward post-capitalism or are part of the problem.
So, what can we do? Is there any way forward?
The mainstream narrative about the climate crisis is all centered on carbon, pretending the Earth's climatic and ecological balance could be reduced to the input and output levels of a single component. This mechanistic way of seeing it has been very handy for capitalism, contributing to the illusion that we could fix our way out of this crisis, if only we implemented the right technologies. While this transition to green energy promises astronomic new profits for the billionaire class, it also threatens to unleash reckless “climate colonialism” on Indigenous people and the global south.
However, the Earth is not a machine and carbon is only one factor influencing our climate. If we want the Earth to cool, we need to understand the crucial role of water in ecology and regenerate ecosystems.
As part of the upcoming documentary series, Water is Love, we explore the crucial relation between water cycles and the climate. In an original and brand new 12 minute animation, illustrated by Charlène Chesnier with sound design from Tamara Montenegro, we portray the healthy water cycle, the consequences of its destruction and how it can be restored.
During COP26, from November 1st until November 12th, we're offering you an exclusive sneak preview of the animation.
Watch the trailer:
We are still crowdfunding to raise 50,000 euros so that we can complete the production of the documentary series. We hope the animation will give us a boost, but we also need your help. An important aspect of a successful crowdfunding campaign is expanding our audience.
Can you invite at least 10 of your friends for this special event and share the crowdfunding link with them?
We believe this is a crucial link that's so far been missing in the climate conversation. If the world can hear this revolutionary message, it might change the direction of the climate movement from adaptation to regeneration, from centralized to decentralized solutions, from seeking tech-fixes to healing our relationship with the living Earth.
We hope you’ll be inspired and look forward to your participation and response.
For the waters, for life,
Martin, Emily, Rosa, Ludwig, and Isabel
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