Art, Ethics and Deliberative Engagement with Climate Change Futures

This paper reports upon empirical research in collaboration with community artist Paul Evans, in the development and application of a deliberative process for public engagement and reflection upon the intergenerational justice dimensions of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. The innovative methodology involves a 4-day long workshop working with young people through a range of activities (including collage, drawing, painting, game making, artefact construction and focus group dialogue) to explore diverse and complex values towards the future climate changed environment in terms of technology, land use, biodiversity and social change. Key findings explore the challenge of moving beyond anthropocentric constructions of environmental futures, managing perceived uncertainty of political and socio-economic systems, lifestyles and social practices in the face of trans-temporal environmental injustice, and the practicalities of running an art-based deliberative process for future scenario development.