Generator of discussions (and criticisms) since its release on Netflix, the satirical film DOIT LOOK UP (Cosmic denial) highlights the gap between the panic of scientists in fact an existential threat to the earth and thedenial of politicians, the media and a part of society.Do climate scientists, another crisis in which the film is an allegory, feel animated by the same feeling of helplessness as Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky?The press interviewed four Quebec climatologists.

Philippe Gachon

Discouragement, anger, anxiety: have the emotions felt by the protagonists of Don’t Look Up found an echo in Philippe Gachon, professor of hydroclimatology at UQAM?

"Absolutely, it joined me on several aspects," he said, deploring that despite the evidence brandished by scientists, the latter struggle to be heard and generate actions."In the film, coordination is so bad that you end up making decisions that have no appearance.In reality, there is indeed a big sword of damocles above the head, and it is not for lack of relationships, "he notes, evoking those of the ICIEC, but also of the undRRR.."What did we achieve four years later?Not much.At each crisis, we are caught off guard.»»

At the head of an interuniversity network on floods, he observes a period between speech and acts of rulers."We also see him in the film, politicians fill mandates to be able to be elected a few years later.And that’s frustrating.It does not mean that they do not understand certain issues, but I think they have not yet achieved the magnitude of what awaits us.»»

Despite everything, an optimistic spark animates him: that of the mobilization of the young generations, who will live with more marked consequences."I think they understood the problem.From Greta Thunberg, there are everywhere on the planet, ecoanxiety grows in them.We must help them by putting themselves at their level, so that they take action without reproducing the errors of the previous generation.»»

Alejandro di Luca

Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences and the Atmosphere of UQAM, Alejandro di Luca is one of the main authors of the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Experts on Climate Evolution (IPCC), including theFirst part was published last August… The day of the transfer of the transfer of the star player Lionel Messi to PSG.In France at least, one overshadowed the other.If he says he is satisfied with the echo that the report received in the world received, the researcher admits being animated sometimes with a feeling of helplessness and discouragement.

"I felt that," said this specialist in regional climate modeling and extreme climate events.But it happens to me to feel it very often.»»

There is a lot of injustice in this world we are aware of, we have lots of data that shows us and we do nothing.»»

Alejandro di Luca, professor in the Department of Earth Sciences and the Atmosphere of UQAM

"The film clearly shows the complexity and the difficulties we have to communicate science well so that the data cause changes in society.There is a whole job that depends partly on us, scientists.We often have difficulty communicating the severity or severity of the situation.There is probably also a responsibility on the part of the media. On voit dans le film comment le divertissement est plus important que même la fin du monde !»»

But, not encouraging, according to him, our capacity for action in climate matters is greater than before a comet who rushes on earth.

Alexandra Lesnikowski

Like many moviegoers, Professor Alexandra Lesnikowski, head of the Laboratory of Adaptation to Climate Changes from Concordia University, found the film that is both funny and painful. « Il reflète beaucoup la frustration ressentie non seulement par la communauté scientifique, mais aussi par le grand public»», indique-t-elle. Mais malgré certaines périodes de découragement, elle se considère comme « prudemment optimiste»».

The climatologist recalls how difficult it can be to find the right formatting for scientific messages - we see the protagonists of Don’t Look Up skating and evolving on this subject.

This is a challenge to make a scientific language accessible to the public and decision -makers that can be complex and enamelled with jargon.[…] Efforts have been made in recent decades to better explain, and we continue to try to find the most effective ways to do so.

Alexandra Lesnikowski, professor in the Department of Geography at Concordia University

In his eyes, Don’t Look Up is in itself a powerful communication tool, capturing public attention and causing discussions on climate change.

Another point addressed: how economic interests threaten to blur the cards, the film denouncing the capitalist avidity that parasites solutions."Climate change is itself the historical result of economic and political inequalities, provoking the prevalence of certain interests on other. On craint toujours que les intérêts enracinés dans notre système actuel, provoquant d’importantes émissions, puissent détourner l’agenda d’une transition vers de nouvelles technologies ou un nouveau système économique»», soutient-elle, précisant que toutes les voix devraient être entendues lors de la transition climatique.

Alain Royer

« La majorité des gens y croient maintenant [au réchauffement climatique], mais ça ne se traduit pas dans des actions très concrètes»», déplore Alain Royer, professeur au département de géomatique de l’Université de Sherbrooke.Specialized in climatology, he has been studying the effects of warming in the Arctic for 20 years.

Alain Royer says of an optimistic nature.The catastrophe scenario where everyone dies at the end, very little for him." We are going to find.Man is intelligent enough to stop destroying himself and when it will really bother ... There are long-term solutions that require funding.When I see the phenomenal sums that have been put on the Covid, which is a good thing, I tell myself that if we did the same thing for technological development, to change energy sources, it would be great.»»

However, it feels a saturation effect in terms of information."People say:" Well, it's okay, we understood.” Effectivement, on a compris, mais après, il faut agir»», rappelle celui qui se fait critique à l’endroit des médias, des réseaux sociaux et des politiciens.

"I think don’t look up, by parody and satire, can have a positive effect.It's obvious.There is something that falls on us and that doesn't bother us.It's well seen.»»