Broad Street in Worcester after a 24 metre rise in sea levels by Clive Haynes
Worcester’s in deep water and this time it’s serious! Want to find out why and what it’s got to do with climate change?
Join me in a stroll around the city to see what could become of well-known buildings and landmarks if we don’t do something.
You’ll need more than just a pair of wellies.
The Hive as viewed from The Butts with a 25m rise in sea level by Clive Haynes
I enjoy working on photo projects and photo essays and in 2022 I decided to work on something that is very close to my heart. As a member of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, I am worried about the impact that global warming will have on our already declining wildlife as well as how it will affect people.
Sometimes people only take action when there’s a direct impact upon their way of life. Too often with global warming, we push away decisions or actions for another time. I wanted to make the oncoming climate crisis more immediate and relevant. In short, something to make people think.
I set about bringing forward the future, so to speak, to dramatically illustrate how a rise in sea level between 23 and 32 metres would have a profound effect upon Worcester and the landmarks we all know and appreciate. This is a bigger rise than than many would anticipate but I want to really bring home the devastation that climate change can bring. By combining my love of photography and manipulation of images, I've created a potential Worcester of the future.
Worcester Cathedral nave after a 27 metre rise in sea level by Clive Haynes
My images relate to the urban environment and assume a similar level of rise in the Severn as might happen in our oceans. Of course, a rise in the levels of seas and rivers would present enormous challenges and profound changes for wildlife of all descriptions.
The output of my project is an e-book called Consequence; please do take a closer look (it's free to do so) and perhaps consider how you can play your part to help avoid climate catastrophe.
