“Feel to act“: this is the slogan written on the Climate Sense project truck. A phrase that attracts many curious people, ready to put their bodies to the test to test the climate of tomorrow. Inside this vehicle, parked this Tuesday, November 26 in a parking lot in Marcq-en-Barœul, a room heated to 50 degrees: a temperature reachable by 2050, in France. “It’s already too much for me, I’m suffocating“: as soon as he entered the trailer, Bruno, a participant from Lille, felt like a weight on his shoulders.
His ordeal has only just begun. As part of the experience, he must spend 30 minutes in this trailer and perform several physical and mental activities. Participants begin with a walking test. “I’m quite sporty and I normally walk quickly, but now my head is spinning, my throat is tight.“, Delphine can’t exceed 4 km/h on the treadmill. For Yohann, it’s even worse: “I feel like I have to concentrate so as not to pass out. I prefer not to talk too much because it requires extra effort.“. After a few minutes, he leaves the room: “It’s unbearable. 50 degrees is clearly a limit that I don’t want to reach!“
In this heat, the volunteers walk at a speed of barely 3 km/h. © Radio France
Other tests allow you to test your body and understand the impact of global warming on our future. Through logic tests, volunteers realize they are having trouble thinking because of the heat. In the truck, we can hear them repeating the instructions for an exercise out loud and starting to get annoyed. Another activity consists of touching everyday objects which will have to disappear from our lives in 2050, like metal watches, which burn the wrists with this heat.
Wearing glasses or a metal watch in 2050: impossible without burning your skin. © Radio France – Matis Caron
Objective: raise awareness about global warming
Behind this project is Christian Clot, a researcher. He created this experience so that everyone could feel concerned about global warming: “In our work on the brain, we noticed that a A person’s decision to change will only come through a lived emotional experience. Despite heatwaves, some people have difficulty making the link with the long-term climate and tend to forget its effects. Many participants then change their behavior after experiencing climate change in this overheated room“. To support them, an exhibition presents solutions to limit your carbon footprint when leaving the truck.
Participants can leave their testimony on a whiteboard. © Radio France – Matis Caron
Christian Clot wants to raise awareness about the consequences of global warming through this project, but also to send a message of optimism: “We can still limit the effects of global warming. We will have these heat peaks at 50 degrees in 2050. But if we change our habits now, it will only happen a few days a year, otherwise, it will be several weeks a year!”
Since the launch of the project in September, 2,000 people have tested it in France.
What are the ethical considerations of using immersive simulations to evoke strong emotional responses in participants, particularly concerning potential psychological distress?
## Interview: Feeling the Heat of Tomorrow
**Introduction:**
Welcome back to World Today News. Today we’re joined by Dr. Emily Carter, a climate scientist, and Pierre Dubois, a participant in the Climate Sense project, to discuss the impact of a rapidly changing climate. This project uses a simulated environment to expose people to the realities of a future with extreme heat.
**Section 1: Feeling the Future**
* **Interviewer to Pierre:** You recently participated in the Climate Sense project, experiencing temperatures expected in France by 2050. What was that experience like? Describe the physical and mental challenges you faced.
* **Pierre:**
* **Interviewer to Dr. Carter:** Dr. Carter, the Climate Sense project offers a visceral experience of potential future temperatures. How important is it to engage people emotionally with the issue of climate change?
* **Dr. Carter:**
* **Interviewer to both guests:** Do you think this approach – using simulation and direct personal experience – is effective in changing attitudes and bahaviors towards climate change?
**Section 2: Beyond the Heat**
* **Interviewer to Pierre:** The project goes beyond just heat exposure. You mentioned trying tasks like logic puzzles and interacting with everyday objects. How did these activities contribute to your overall understanding of the potential impact of climate change?
* **Pierre:**
* **Interviewer to Dr. Carter:** Beyond the immediate discomfort of high temperatures, what are some lesser-known or underestimated consequences of global warming that might surprise people?
* **Dr. Carter:**
* **Interviewer to both guests:** What concrete actions can individuals take to mitigate the impacts of climate change, both in terms of adaptation and reducing emissions?
**Section 3: A Message of Hope**
* **Interviewer to Dr. Carter:** The Climate Sense project also aims to send a message of hope. Dr. Carter, what are some reasons to remain optimistic in the face of this global challenge?
* **Dr. Carter:**
* **Interviewer to both guests:** What final thoughts or messages do you have for our audience regarding the importance of action on climate change?
**Conclusion:**
Thank you to Dr. Carter and Mr. Dubois for sharing their insights with us today. The Climate Sense project is a powerful reminder that the effects of climate change are not abstract concepts—they will be felt directly by individuals in the very near future. It is our hope that by raising awareness and inspiring action, we can create a more sustainable future for all.
**Note:** This is a sample structure and open-ended questions designed to spark conversation. Feel free to adjust them to fit the specific perspectives and expertise of your guests.
