Picture : European Parliament Don’t Look Up event speakers symbolically urge everyone to look up.
Netflix’s Don’t Look Up, written and directed by Adam McKay, powerfully visualises the importance of heeding scientific data and evidence to avert potential environmental crises in our future.
But are EU policymakers really listening to science? This was the question posed at Think-Film’s Don’t Look Up European Parliament impact event in December 2022, which interactively ‘put EU climate policy on trial’ with a view to driving more positive action.
The event brought together some of the most renowned scientists on the topic of climate change and forest protection as well as an advisor on forest issues at the Sámi Council, a youth climate activist and an expert forest campaigner from Fern. “Evidence” sessions investigated unscientific claims and tactics that can be used to divert citizen and policymaker attention away from empirical facts, such as misinformation, reliance on unproven technologies and de-legitimisation of experts in the context of forest issues.
At the conclusion of the event, participants were invited to act as a “jury”, and anonymously vote whether, based on the “evidence” presented, they can conclude that EU policymakers should do more to protect forests following scientific evidence. This provided a valuable cross-section “decision” that reflectively informs how work on the various climate files continues.
Speakers commented that Don’t Look Up offers a persuasive perspective on how the film industry can use its power to change the narrative to action. It has reached millions who would never have heard policy speeches, and shows how we all have to use our mediums to.
