CLIMATE JUSTICE: THE ROLE OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS
Written by: Felicity Asibi Akwa
Edited by: Beatrice Bos
Climate justice is a type of environmental justice that focuses on the unequal impacts of climate change on marginalized or otherwise vulnerable populations. Climate justice seeks to achieve an equitable distribution of both the burdens of climate change and the efforts to mitigate climate change through advocacy and policy change.
Climate justice recognizes that those who have benefited most from industrialization (such as coal, oil, and gas enterprises) are disproportionately responsible for the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere, and thus for climate change.
For decades, climate change communication has been concerned with the perceived chasm between those who are conversant in the language of the natural sciences and those who are not. While complicated graphs, technical analyses and scientific articles have been crucial in communicating the climate emergency, sole reliance on sciences has also proved grossly insufficient to drive change; climate change is not only a scientific phenomenon. Climate change is cultural, in its causes and its impacts. Responding to this crisis requires a cultural change in our relation to the natural world, our joint responsibility for ourselves and others on our planet, and the way we live our lives. This cultural understanding of the phenomenon cannot only be communicated through science, but requires cultural interactions, facilitated through what makes cultures visible, audible, and tangible: art.
The “A” in Activism
Art is the tool to communicate that which science cannot, addressing both human cognition and emotion through imaginative ways in its ability to link localized, cultured, and gendered human experiences to natural realities and abstract concepts. Art is a medium that enables anyone, regardless of the language they speak, their age, gender, nationality, or social-economic background, to express, explore and participate in the climate justice conversation.
Art can serve as a form of recognition and representation of history, lack of justice and impact, especially in the case of art created by and for marginalized communities who are denied space in the public sphere. This allows these communities to share their indigenous knowledge and traditions, a crucial part of fighting climate change.
Carousel IV (2019) Oil painting by Daniel Loveday
The “How”
Stories have the power to captivate and inspire. By weaving climate change narratives into literature, oral traditions, and digital media, storytellers can engage audiences and raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change. Personal stories and accounts of individuals and communities directly impacted by climate change can humanize the issue and create empathy.
Collaborative art projects that involve communities, artists, scientists, and policymakers can facilitate multidisciplinary dialogue and collective action. These projects provide platforms for different stakeholders to come together, exchange knowledge and perspectives, and jointly address climate change challenges. They can lead to innovative solutions, empower communities, and foster a sense of shared responsibility.
Documentaries, films, and other media platforms are effective tools for conveying complex climate change information to broad audiences. Environmental filmmakers can highlight the causes and consequences of climate change, showcase sustainable initiatives, and inspire viewers to make positive changes.
Media outlets can also play a crucial role in reporting on climate change-related issues, raising awareness, and holding policymakers accountable. Engaging communities in climate change initiatives fosters ownership, builds resilience, and encourages sustainable practices. Community-based art projects, workshops, and performances can bring people together, encourage dialogue, and create a sense of collective action. By involving local communities in decision-making processes, their perspectives and knowledge can be integrated, ensuring more effective and locally appropriate climate change solutions.
Climate change-themed exhibitions and installations in museums, galleries, and public spaces provide interactive and immersive experiences. These platforms can educate visitors about the science behind climate change, showcase its impacts, and demonstrate sustainable solutions. Such exhibitions often employ innovative technologies and interactive displays to engage and inform audiences.
Photo by Yelena from Pexels from Pexels
Where do we go from here?
Artistic expressions have the power to raise awareness, foster critical thinking, and mobilize individuals and communities towards climate action. By utilizing the creative potential of these sectors, society can be inspired to embrace sustainable practices, advocate for policy changes, and contribute to mitigating and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
The increasing global phenomenon of storms, droughts, fires, floods, disease, and famines is inescapable. If you are not one of the millions of people experiencing these events, then you are one of the millions who watch the videos, news media reports, and rising death tolls related to these catastrophes.
Art is the bridge to facilitate conversations between generations, and we need to utilize it NOW!
References
"Climate change is a matter of justice – here's why | UNDP Climate Promise". climatepromise.undp.org. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2025
Quiroz, D., Stravens, M., & Achterberg, E. (2022). Art & Climate Justice. Retrieved August 20, 2025, from https://voicesforjustclimateaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Art-Advocacy-and-Climate-Justice.pdf
Sabra, P. Z., & Al-Moaz, D. E. (2022). Awareness of Climate Change - The role of art, education and culture in raising awareness of climate change. International Journal of Education and Learning Research, 5(1), pp. 48 - 70. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://ijelr.journals.ekb.eg/article_304332_c6295bf47cdb011ecdf373a220596a94.pdf
Schlosberg, David; Collins, Lisette B. (May 2014). "From environmental to climate justice: climate change and the discourse of environmental justice". WIREs Climate Change. 5 (3): 359–374
"What is Climate Justice?". Global Witness. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2025.