Low Carbon Chinatown is an interactive urban intervention, participatory platform and meal-as-performance, founded on AI and data science, addressing the Climate Crisis through the lens of global agri-food systems. With Asian Chinese diasporic food culture as a starting point—for its popularity and perceived high-carbon footprint due to imports—the project engages large groups of East and Southeast Asians in UK and Europe to reduce carbon footprints of food production, sourcing and consumption.
Food and eating, with its association to culture, is something we all have in common, breaking down barriers and bringing us together. Low Carbon Chinatown brings an inclusive perspective to the climate movement, engaging cross-generational East and Southeast Asians (ESEA) to explore aspects of the food system unseen in Europe, shattering a myth long-associated with the communities having little environmental concern.
Built on contributions from food writers, data scientists, architects and engineers, it includes participatory workshops to develop low-carbon recipes of typical Chinese dishes, experimenting with ingredients, sourcing and cooking techniques that retain authenticity, an online platform to share low-carbon recipes and data, encouraging experimentation and actions, recipe videos with interviews of ESEA and activistic info, as well as public sit-down meals (hosted in the low-carbon Pop-Up) in different cities to present the low-carbon dishes and create media-genic events that get more involved.
Photo: Luke O’Donovan
Photo:
Photo: Luke O’Donovan
Bio
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Photo: Wang WeiLing Tan
SG, GB
Trained as an architect, Ling is a designer, artist and coder known for her work on social engagement, urban data science and environmental politics. Her work challenges people’s interactions with their built environments using technology to catalyze dialogue and action. With a focus on participation and collective agency, she has worked with diverse communities worldwide on participatory and technological initiatives that address pressing urban issues including climate change, public safety and air quality.
Credits
Low Carbon Chinatown is a project by Ling Tan, originally produced by Kakilang. With support from Arts Council England, Compass Festival, University of Manchester, Manchester Museum and Barking Riverside. Project collaborators are data scientist Raphael Leung, and food writers and chefs MiMi Aye, Uyen Luu, Shu Han Lee and Neil Eakapong.
The project is supported by community organizations including Newham Chinese Association, Hackney Chinese community centre, Chinatown Chinese community centre, Lychee Red, Mafwa Theatre, Manchester University Friendship program.
The low carbon Pop-Up Structure is designed by Ling Tan in collaboration with Usman Haque, supported by structural engineers Atelier One, fabricated by Gary Campbell and production managed by Nick Murray.
Presented in the context of the STARTS Ec(h)o project. STARTS Ec(h)o is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101135691.,Presented in the context of the STARTS in the City project. STARTS in the City has received funding from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology under grant agreement No. LC-01984766.
