70/30 is a documentary that'll be screening at the Transitions Film Festival - Virtual which runs from 18 Feb to 13 Mar 2022. For your chance to WINa free pass to the Transitions Film Festival, visit the WIN PAGE and enter code WEN and, in the 'Answer' section, write the name of the film you want to see! Winners notified 28 Feb 2022.
Climate plays an all-important role in the 2019 election in Denmark. Citizens are in an uproar across the country, demonstrating for a green and sustainable Denmark. The leading character of the film is democracy. Can democracy's elected representatives solve the climate crisis? Are they prepared to go all the way or is it all just campaign talk and hot air?
Denmark's goal to reduce CO2 emissions 70% by 2030 is among the world's most ambitious climate laws. Thousands of young Danes - children and youth, took to the street to protest, demanding action. Elections were called later the same year with climate at the top of the political agenda because green climate policies were attracting voters. But will the politicians, citizens and industry be able to come together to make Denmark a green pioneer? Or will the election promises and green ambitions crumble when the new climate law is faced with reality?
70/30 follows some of democracy's main characters in relation to the climate crisis, and they are the two young activists Esther Kjeldahl, philosopher and co-founder of the Green Student Movement and Selma de Montgomery of Fridays for Future; Ida Auken, Chairwoman of the Climate Comity and Minister for Climate, Dan Jørgensen.
This documentary shows you the long and arduous task to make change happen. It's a tussle between going back and forth as the world's strongest climate deal is reached, making it a binding agreement. However, it soon starts to stutter as Covid takes front seat and impacts the world. The government eventually acknowledges commitment to the climate plan and pledges to stop gas and oil exploration after 2050. However, this does not please the young activists who do not applaud this as it means there's still 30 more years of getting oil and gas out of the ground.
This film is a snapshot of a turbulent period, and it highlights that meaningful change moves very slowly. The spine of the film may be the work of climate minister Dan Jørgensen and the former chair of the climate committee Ida Auken who work to bring real political change to Denmark, but it's the young activists that shine; their commitment and passion for climate change easily visible, front and centre of the whole film.
Especially outstanding is Selma de Montgomery, who is a gem and a shining leader for climate change. Through the course of the film, you can see she's grown up, matured and a force to be reckoned with, now and in the future. The way she expresses herself leaves you, without doubt, she has a good grip on the subject and the urgency of our climate crisis. Can't help but admire this young activist.
Here's a heads up that this documentary is very dialogue heavy and will require all your attention to read through it all if you don't speak the language. There are no pretty sceneries of the environment or the pollution; it's all about going face to face with political and industrial reality.
