Change of Atmosphere: The ClimateMusic Project

As an analogy for climate, music is familiar, accessible, andâ€"for most peopleâ€"much easier to relate to than data. The ClimateMusic Project was created to harness this universal language to tell the urgent story of climate change to broad and diverse audiences in a way that resonates and inspires.

The ClimateMusic Project creates and performs original music through close collaboration between leading climate scientists and artists. The resulting compositions offer a unique way of communicating the impact of human activities on our climate.  

The ClimateMusic Project will perform “Climate,” by composer Erik Ian Walker. The full 30-minute piece spans 500 years (1800-2300AD) of the climate’s past and present, as well as two possible future scenarios. The data sets are from simulations from the Community Earth System Model (CESM), an open model that has been used extensively in national and international assessments of climate change. Performers include Swiss violinist Michèle Walther, who studied at the Basel Conservatory.

These live performances include synchronized visuals and post-concert public forums, where audiences are invited to engage with scientists, composers, and musicians. The program includes a discussion with Dr. William Collins of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, scientific advisor to the ClimateMusic Project.