End of the world: ‘Black Box’ to record Earth’s doomsday for future civilisation

Boris Johnson: COP26 a ‘decisive shift’ in climate change battle

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The incredible project is set to be completed in early 2022 in a remote part of the Australian island, near its west coast. Built to “outlive us all” the “indestructible” structure will collect data related to climate change, including new articles and atmospheric temperatures, that will chronicle humanity’s role in its own potential demise. The goal is to “record every step we take towards this catastrophe” and to store the information for future generations.

The Black Box website explains: “Unless we dramatically transform our way of life, climate change and other man-made perils will cause our civilisation to crash.

“Earth’s Black Box will record every step we take towards this catastrophe.

“Hundreds of data sets, measurements and interactions relating to the health of our planet will be continuously collected and safely stored for future generations.”

About the same size as a bus and constructed from three-inch-thick steel plates and solar panels, the Black Box is being built on a granite plain in Tasmania.

The structure’s unusual shape is meant to distinguish it from any natural features, should future generations ever stumble upon it.

The project is being led by the University of Tasmania and the marketing communications company Clemenger BBDO.

The Black Box website indicates the project has already started to collect data, including snippets of headlines and tweets from climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The Black Box website reads: “The purpose of the device is to provide an unbiased account of the events that lead to the demise of the planet, hold accountability for future generations, and inspire urgent action.

“How the story ends is completely up to us.

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“Only one thing is certain, your actions, inactions and interactions are now being recorded.”

Scientists all across the globe agree the world is on track to experience the worst of climate change if planet-warming carbon emissions aren’t urgently slashed.

In late October, a report published by the United Nations (UN) warned the planet will hit 2.7C of global warming by 2100, far exceeding internationally agreed-upon targets.

The most optimistic scenario for ensuring humanity’s safe future is limiting global warming to 1.5C of pre-industrial levels.

However, many scientists fear the likelihood of hitting target appears to be slipping further and further away with each passing day.

Jim Curtis from Clemenger BBDO told the ABC: “The idea is if the Earth does crash as a result of climate change, this indestructible recording device will be there for whoever’s left to learn from that.

“It’s also there to hold leaders to account – to make sure their action or inaction is recorded.”

As a signatory of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the UK has agreed to slash its greenhouse emissions.

Towards this goal, the UK has vowed to transition to a net-zero economy by 2050, and to cut emissions by 78 percent by 2035.

The UK hosted the UN’s 26th climate change summit (COP26) this year, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson said climate change is the biggest issue of the modern era.

He said: “The children, the children who will judge us, are children not yet born. And their children.

“And we are now coming centre stage before a vast and uncountable audience of posterity, and we mustn’t fluff our lines or miss our cue.

“Because if we fail, they will not forgive us.”

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