Post-Fossil Transition
Societies must rapidly abandon the use of fossil fuels to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
Post-fossil transition at HIAP has three focus topics Travel, Energy and Food. These areas of focus were chosen because of their relationship to fossil fuels and because of the potential changing HIAP’s practices have to reduce the organisations use of fossil fuels and carbon footprint.
The biggest take away from the Po-fo’ Project and the beginning of post-fossil transition has been degrowth. It seems easy to follow the mantra of reduction; to eat less meat and take less flights but that ideology is also easily swayed by exceptions – a simplification that can easily misguide or misrepresent by not containing new models or the solution. To start from the foundational ideas and change them to new ones can facilitate a more fundamental shift, not just reducing or doing less, but doing things differently. What is needed is a shift in the culture of the arts organisation.
An in-depth look at the content of the Post-Fossil Transition Project can be found in The Po-Fo’ Reader which features thematic articles as well as introductions to artworks, projects and artists in residence.
TRAVEL
As an international arts organisation we are aware that due to network connections, travel by artists in residence and development of artistic projects, travel is the main source of HIAP’s environmental impact. Transportation produces 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions*. Which is why it is important to change the way we travel.
FOOD
Changing the foods that you eat can have a big impact on your carbon footprint as well as reduce pollution, preserve the environment, slow global warming and reduce use of fossil fuels.
Including supply chain, crop production and land use, food is responsible for approximately 26% of global emissions*. If you include deforestation from agriculture that percentage rises to 32%. Fossil fuels are used in every aspect of food production. Which is why a conscious choice is of great importance.
The average Finnish consumer can reduce the climate impact of their diet by 40% through their product choices*
ENERGY
Fossil fuels supply about 80% of the world’s energy* which in turn is the largest creator of Greenhouse gas emissions worldwide (Our World in Data). Major factors for reducing fossil fuel dependency are choosing sustainable energy practices and reducing energy consumption. These practises will also decrease the rate of depletion of world energy reserves and pollution of the environment.
The post-fossil transition at HIAP started as a three year collaboration (2018-2020) with Mustarinda.