Scientist Rebellion
This art and climate walk has been developed in collaboration with Scientist Rebellion, an international movement of scientists and academics profoundly concerned about the climate and ecological crisis.
Through nine artworks, this walk invites you to reflect on the role of art, science and humanity in the face of climate change.
The booklet for the walk is available at the museum entrance. The walk takes about an hour and is accessible to visitors using a wheelchair or walking frame.
Download With Fresh Eyes (English: from page 26)
Art and Climate Walk. Further reading
Where do you want to start? The sheer volume of publications, blogs, podcasts, films and lectures on climate change is enormous. And there is a lot of misinformation. Regardless of what you want to read – what do you want to learn about? – it’s also important to consider: what are you going to do with this information? That’s why this list is limited to books that not only inform, but also offer practical solutions.
What are the effects for the Netherlands?
In 2023, the KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) outlined various scenarios that illustrate the consequences of climate change for the Netherlands.
There is very broad public support for measures to combat climate change. For example, Urgenda drew up a 54-point plan: a list of very specific measures that will lead to significant CO2 reductions: www.urgenda.nl.
Books
Greta Thunberg and many others, The Climate Book (Penguin Random House, 2022)
In late 2022, the well-known climate activist Greta Thunberg asked a hundred scientists to describe, in clear and concise terms, what they knew about climate change based on their expertise. A comprehensive and accessible book that covers many aspects of climate change and also discusses how to deal with this information.
Thijs Weststeijn, The Future of the Past. When Cultural Heritage Meets Climate Change (Polity, 2026) (upcoming translation)
In this book, art historian Thijs Weststeijn describes the impact climate change will have on cultural heritage in the Netherlands and how our love of art and heritage can help raise awareness of the climate crisis.
Jelmer Mommes, How Are We Going to Explain This? Our Future on a Hot Earth (Profile Books, 2020)
An excellent and accessible book on the climate crisis in three parts: What’s wrong? Where are we heading? What can we do? With a bonus section at the back explaining twelve climate-related issues.
George Monbiot, Out of the Wreckage: A New Politics for an Age of Crisis (Verso Books, 2017)
The British journalist and writer George Monbiot offers a highly incisive analysis of the neoliberal narrative and the underlying values that seem to be hindering efforts to resolve the climate crisis. ‘Despair is the state we find ourselves in when our imagination fails us.’ So it is time for a new narrative. Monbiot sketches out a narrative in which community is revitalised, and our altruism, empathy and deep sense of connectedness are no longer held back.
Jason Hickel, Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World (Penguin, 2020)
Consuming less? That’s never going to happen, of course. Political economist Jason Hickel demonstrates flawlessly that the current economic system is not something ‘natural’, but was only created very recently by humans. Is capitalism being blamed for everything again? Certainly. Because the belief that economic growth is a prerequisite for prosperity and happiness has become the new global religion. Infinite economic and material growth as humanity’s ultimate goal; it is impossible on a finite planet. Hickel also points out that things can be done differently, through very simple political choices. Why do we only have a five-year warranty on products, and why don’t we make it twenty years?
Naomi Klein, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate (Simon & Schuster, 2014)
This 2014 classic is a meticulously documented study of how the views of humanity and culture underpinning the neoliberal version of capitalism have led to the current global climate crisis and inequality. The free market is not going to save us here. And is our addiction to fossil fuels incurable? Journalist and political activist Naomi Klein shows that there are many alternatives to this prevailing worldview. ‘You are not alone.’
Rather watch a talk or film?
These TED Talks provide a good introduction to the various topics:
- Katharine Hayhoe, ‘The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Fight Climate Change: Talk About It’ (TED 2019)
- Per Espen Stoknes, ‘How to Transform Apocalypse Fatigue into Action on Global Warming’ (TED 2017)
- George Monbiot, ‘The New Political Story that Could Change Everything’ (TED Summit 2019)
- Johan Rockström, ‘The Tipping Points of Climate Change – and Where We Stand’ (TED 2025)
Tip: crankyuncle.com
The website (and app) crankyuncle.com teaches you how to spot fallacies in the climate debate. With the free app, you can practise countering disinformation.