Zone Red confronts the urgent reality of climate change by visually embodying the countdown to a critical moment in our planet’s future. The digital clock, prominently displayed up high on the heritage plinth in the Edinburgh Gardens, ticks steadily toward the year 2030—the date the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that emissions must be cut by 45% to limit global warming below 1.5ºC. This temperature rise is more than just a number; it signifies the onset of more frequent and severe weather events, irreversible loss of polar ice, rising sea levels, and widespread ecological devastation. 

The clock, powered by the sun and harnessing renewable energy, becomes a symbol of both our resilience and our vulnerability. As each second passes, the installation is a stark reminder of the approaching deadline, creating a powerful juxtaposition between the impending sense of alarm and the hope for change.  

The importance of strong climate action by 2030 has also been called out by Yarra City Council in its second Climate Emergency Plan from 2024 through to 2030—echoing the IPCC call for strong action in this critical decade to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. 

The work challenges us to consider the role each of us plays in contributing to climate change and how our actions, both small and large, can either exacerbate or mitigate this global crisis. The mirrored surface and reflected image of the world’s CO2 emissions is a metaphor for self-awareness and accountability.

This artwork embodies a duality: it is a call to action rooted in the alarming realities of climate science, yet it also carries the promise of hope, underscoring the potential for human ingenuity and collective effort to create meaningful change before it is too late.

Digital Technology supported by Melbourne LED

Zone Red by Yandell Walton is presented as part of the Edinburgh Gardens Plinth Program. For more information contact our Yarra City Arts team on 9205 5555 or visit arts.yarracity.vic.gov.au