Dutch artist Thijs Biersteker has developed a machine that shows the emissions associated with everyday online activities from video chats and emails to trading NFTs as visible puffs of CO2. The "MB>CO2" installation comprises three monitors, each displaying a different computer window, such as a Zoom call or Spotify playlist. These monitors are connected to a mini-computer that uses an algorithm to calculate the carbon emissions associated with each activity in real time. The algorithm then triggers the release of the corresponding amount of carbon dioxide gas into a spherical terrarium. The installation allows viewers to dial into the installation, giving the installation an interactive element. As the concentration of CO2 in the terrarium rises, the plants inside begin to wilt, providing a visual metaphor for the impact of our internet use on the planet.

Photo: Thijs Biersteker. 2023