The Climate Dome project

Changing public attitudes on climate change in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Newcastle Upon Tyne (U.K.) has established the ‘Experiential Climate Dome’ to change public attitudes to climate change across the north east of England.

The ‘Climate Dome’ offers a variety of exhibits including a climate wall, audio-visual presentations on the fabric both inside and outside of the Dome developed with scientists as well as a host of interactive digital displays. It will be accompanied by an advertising and marketing program, competitions, giveaways and a call to action.

Citizens will have the opportunity to play the Carbon Challenge game, calculate their individual carbon footprint, and make a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the individual level, six actions are offered; these are:

1. Use public transport instead of my car once a week.
2. Only fill my kettle with the amount of water I am going to use.
3. Turn my thermostat down by just 1 degree Celsius.
4. Never leave my TV on standby.
5. Install three energy efficient lightbulbs.
6. Unplug or switch off one phone charger I’m not using.

The Dome is designed to engage people who are either not yet aware or convinced of climate change as a ‘here and now’ threat to the region. It is to be exhibited at shopping centres, city centres, sports and music events, schools and colleges. To learn more about the Climate Dome, please visit www.climatedome.org.

The Cities for Climate Protection^TM (CCP) Campaign enlists cities to adopt policies and implement measures to achieve quantifiable reductions in local greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and enhance urban livability and sustainability. More than 650 local governments participate in the CCP, integrating climate change mitigation into their decision-making processes. For more information, please visit www.iclei.org/ccp.

Newcastle Upon Tyne is one of 159 local governments in Europe that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. For more information on ICLEI and its activities in Europe, please visit www.iclei.org/europe.

Source: ClimateDome plege card, and ‘Climate Dome – Change Tomorrow Today’ at www.climatedome.org.