The joint initiative by Qatargas, Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and Qatar University to protect and preserve biodiversity through the planting of artificial coral reefs raises important questions of scale. The significance of scale towards environmental study is a topic that Tim Clark discusses in his essay “Derangements of scale”. A derangement of scale, also known as a crisis of scale, arises when we read or evaluate at multiple scales at the same time (Clark 17). One important consequence of this implosion of scale is that we may begin to associate simple actions with vast stakes (Clark 5). One example of the confusion caused by the crisis of scale is the misperception that a motorist purchasing a somewhat less damaging vehicle is suddenly “saving the planet” (Clark 4). Similarly, we often hear climate change urgency being evoked through statements such as “humanity is destroying itself.” This is extremely deceptive since it implies that mankind has control over the entire planet and is consciously choosing to self-harm (Clark 4). To better grasp Clark’s concept of scale, we must look at the three different scales of analysis for environmental studies.
In “Derangements of Scale”, Tim Clark devises three important scales of analysis. The first is the personal scale, which evaluates an agent’s close group and contacts (Clark 11). The second is the spatial scale, in which the influence or repercussions include a country’s culture and its citizens (Clark 11). Finally, the hypothetical scale may reflect the entire planet, its population, and possibly a period of 600 years (Clark 12). Applying this distinction of scale to the artificial coral reefs initiative in Qatar, we may infer what each scale may look like. For example, the personal scale might show how this campaign may benefit the individual agents (Qatargas, Qatar University, and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment) through increased media attention. Likewise, the spatial/national scale would represent the benefits to Qatar’s culture, which would simply be the enhancement or preservation of ocean biodiversity. Finally, and most critically, on the hypothetical/global scale, a possible benefit is that this project may enable or pave the way for new marine environment preservation strategies (Qatargas), whereas, a possible disadvantage is that it implies a sense of techno-optimism and selfishness in the attitude of the various actors toward global environmental crises. Hence, by viewing this case study via Tim Clark’s “Derangement of Scale” perspective, we might deduce a new implication, namely the “prioritization of scale”.
Prioritization of scale simply refers to the idea that actors working on issues of climate change frequently prioritize the benefits to the personal or national scale above potential global implications. This sense of prioritization of scale is relevant in both the cases of environmental slogans and the artificial coral reef initiative in Qatar. As we observed with the motorist, environmental slogans frequently tend toward the personal or, at most, the spatial scale, and their assertions are only applicable when studied on those dimensions. A motorist who purchases a less damaging vehicle is simply decreasing his carbon footprint, but his individual actions are completely insignificant to global climate change mitigation. Similarly, the artificial coral reef initiative is only beneficial on a personal and spatial level. On a personal level, one potential advantage is increased media attention for the partners involved, whilst on a spatial or national level, the initiatives are expected to aid in the mitigation of ocean biodiversity loss caused by rising temperatures. In both instances, there is little consideration or significance to the potential implications on a hypothetical or global scale. In this sense, there’s a prioritization of scale, with the closer, presumably easier, scales favored over the distant, considerably more complex ones, or in other words, the individual and domestic benefits are prioritized over potential global consequences.
Works Cited:
Clark, Timothy. “Derangements of scale.” Telemorphosis: Theory in the era of climate change 1 (2012): 148-166.
“Qatargas completes landmark environmental project to protect Qatar’s rich marine biodiversity” Qatargas, 19 Oct. 2021, https://www.qatargas.com/english/MediaCenter/Pages/Press%20Releases/Qatargas-completes-landmark-environmental-project-to-protect-Qatar%E2%80%99s-rich-marine-biodiversity.aspx
