Photographer Edward Burtynsky has spent his life trying to capture the environmental cost of civilization and is struggling to keep up.
“The world is doing more of my stuff every day,” Burtynsky told ABC Radio Sydney breakfast host James Valentine.
The work of Mr. Burtynsky highlights the disproportionate impact of humans on nature. (Provided by: Edward Burtynsky)
The Canadian photographer’s work focuses on colossal environmental extraction sites, including mega mines and massive irrigation circles.
It also shows massive human-built infrastructure, from freeway spaghetti junctions to huge apartment blocks in the world’s most populous megacities.
Mr. Burtynsky’s In The Wake of Progress is a 20-minute feature of his photographs combined with music. The story is performed in an outdoor theater in Sydney’s Taylor Square.
Burtynsky believes that people do not appreciate the seriousness of climate change. (ABC Radio Sydney: Declan Bowring)
Burtynsky wants to demonstrate the sheer amount of force behind humanity’s attempt to bring the world’s population up to the standard of living expected in the West.
“I wanted to really witness the larger intersections between man and nature,” Burtynsky said.
“There are billions of people who are still trying to reach our standard of living.”
His work is marked with photographs of unspoiled natural spaces, which show what is being lost in development.
The images of a virgin desert punctuate the work of Mr. Burtynsky. (Provided by: Edward Burtynsky)
This destruction is also hampering the planet’s ability to recover from climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in February said the world needed effective conservation of at least 30% of Earth’s terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Burtynsky is particularly concerned that humanity is moving beyond environmental tipping points.
The exhibition attempts to capture the attention of passers-by in the inner city of Sydney. (Supplied: Sydney Festival)
“What worries me the most is ocean warming and ocean acidification,” Burtynsky said.
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“This Miraculous Planet”
Mr. Burtynsky believes that people do not understand the gravity of the situation.
However, he is encouraged by the United States’ signing of a new $600 billion bill that includes spending to address climate change ahead of the COP27 meeting in Egypt.
The opportunity for another generation to experience the “wonderful” natural world is shrinking, says Mr Burtynsky. (Provided by: Edward Burtynsky)
“Showing the next deal to Egypt without any solution from the world’s richest economy would be really devastating for all the other countries trying to do something,” Burtynsky said.
“The opportunity for the next generations to have this miraculous planet as their home, there is a possibility that it will be lost.”