Climate change up close: new traveling exhibition in namu inspires!

Climate change up close: new traveling exhibition in namu inspires!

Climate change is a global phenomenon that has become increasingly important in recent years. In Bielefeld, this topic is being addressed with a new traveling exhibition that underlines the urgent need for regional awareness. Dr. Ingo Höpfner, the museum director of the Natural History Museum (namu), emphasizes the importance of linking the global dimension of climate change with local impacts. This connection is intended to create understanding for the challenges that climate change brings with it.

The exhibition is based on the large special exhibition “The Climate”, which allows deeper insights into the topic. Dr. Kirsten Bernhardt from the LWL Museum Office for Westphalia reports that the traveling exhibition offers a condensed form of this comprehensive presentation and sets individual accents. This is not only intended to provide information, but also to focus on the urgency and need for measures to mitigate climatic changes.

Global climate models and their influence

A central aspect covered in the exhibition is the global climate models and scenarios used to predict future climate developments. The assumptions it contains about greenhouse gases and social developments are crucial for making concrete forecasts. The latest IPCC reports, especially the 6th report, use socio-economic scenarios (SSP) for this purpose. These help to understand the far-reaching consequences of our actions on the climate.

What do these scenarios mean specifically? For example, the RCP2.6 scenario describes what happens if we take consistent action on climate change, while the RCP8.5 scenario shows the catastrophic consequences of “business as usual”. The global temperature is set to rise by more than 4 degrees Celsius by 2100, which would have devastating effects on our environment and society.

Action is required

Given these threatening prospects, it becomes clear how important it is for both individual citizens and institutions to take action. The traveling exhibition at namu is a step in the right direction to create awareness and motivate people to take personal responsibility. With the realization that consistent climate protection is necessary to prevent irreversible damage, responsibility becomes clearer.

In conclusion, climate change is not only a global problem but is also at our doorstep. The new exhibition aims to help promote regional engagement and make the pressing issues of climate change accessible to a broad public. The future of the planet is in our hands.