The History Hour Banky's 'Dismaland' and the Paris climate agreement
Dec 13, 2025
Cristiana Figueres, a key architect of the 2015 Paris Agreement, shares her experiences in climate diplomacy. She recounts the challenges faced during COP21, including security threats from the November attacks. Figueres describes the tense moments over the wording of the agreement, revealing how a 'shall' versus 'should' debate could impact global emissions commitments. Her emotional recollection of the agreement's adoption underscores its significance, marking a pivotal moment in international climate action.
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Unexpected Role At Dismaland
- Curtis Young believed he was hired as a film extra and only later learned he was a steward at Banksy's Dismaland, signing an NDA to keep the project secret.
- He trained to act miserable and deliberately disrupted visitors to create the park's satirical atmosphere.
Misery Can Be Economically Lucrative
- Dismaland used low ticket prices and deliberate scarcity to create huge demand and media frenzy.
- The show generated around £20 million for the local economy despite its deliberately bleak theme.
Art That Forces Reflection
- Banksy's installations linked pop-culture icons to contemporary issues like surveillance, refugees and climate change.
- The art aimed to provoke thought by combining beauty with unsettling social critique.
