Great questions. The image reflects a worst-case climate scenario, which draws from scientific models—especially those associated with RCP 8.5 or SSP5-8.5, the most extreme greenhouse gas concentration pathway used in climate modeling.
Here’s why the sky is so red and the scene looks like that:
In extreme warming scenarios:
- Desertification spreads, especially around the Mediterranean.
- Intense droughts and vegetation loss contribute to frequent dust storms, particularly Saharan dust sweeping north into southern Europe.
- Higher levels of aerosols and particulate matter in the air scatter sunlight, creating the orange-red sky—similar to what we see during large wildfires or dust storms today (e.g., California wildfires or Saharan dust events in Greece).
With more particulate pollution:
- Shorter blue wavelengths scatter away.
- Red and orange wavelengths dominate, especially during low sun angles or heavy haze—hence the eerie lighting.
The abandoned, dusty look reflects:
- Heat-driven urban decay.
- Reduced municipal services due to economic or climate crises.
- Possible depopulation of urban centers due to heatwaves, water scarcity, or climate migration.
It’s speculative but plausible under extreme scenarios. Climate scientists don’t make aesthetic predictions, but:
- Dust transport from Africa to Europe is already increasing.
- Urban heat islands will worsen, making some areas hard to inhabit.
- More frequent extreme weather events (fires, droughts, heatwaves) will likely reshape how cities look and feel.
Would you like a breakdown of more grounded IPCC-based projections for Mediterranean cities like Athens?