Carbon Ruins is an exhibition that imagines the future where the transitions to post-fossil society has already happened.

The project – a collaboration between researchers from Lund University, Warwick University, Utrecht University and Durham University – aims to transport visitors in space and time to 2053 in order “to spark a visionary and tangible conversation on what we leave behind and what we take with us”.

By focusing on recognisable objects the exhibition bridges the gap between the daily lives of humans and the abstract impacts of climate change. The choice of the objects and the associated stories are based on climate models and expertise from the Narrating Climate Futures network.

The characters and events which construct the story have been generated through participatory workshops with researchers and practitioners in food, transport, steel, energy and plastic.

The Carbon Ruins exhibition held at the imaginary Fossil Museum exhibits the last fast-food burger ever served from 2038; images of nature breaking through artificial grass refuge, and heralds Luleå 2044 as the last Swedish; and where frequent flying programmes no longer exist.

Carbon Ruins is part of Climaginaries which aims to shape the narratives of climate futures.

Climaginaries say: “The purpose of Climaginaries is to bring together different perspectives to enhance understanding of the transformative capacity of imaginaries in regards to the environmental challenges we are facing, not least the challenges connected to the acceleration of climate change and what this might mean for the future.”

The exhbition will travel across Sweden to Domkyrkoforum in September and Lunds Stadsbibliotek in October. Carbon Ruins can also be viewed online via the Climaginaries website

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about lifestyles including sustainable and green living. She also offers content services to businesses and individuals at Rosamedea.com