Storytelling for Survival: Climate Fiction and the Fight for Justice

Author: Brett Walther

Field of Study: Arts and Humanities

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 29

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Fiction has always played a critical role in shaping the public perceptions of climate change. Whether it be imaginary stories or contemporary fiction, climate narratives have expanded awareness and influenced societal attitudes toward the environmental crisis. This project examines how climate fiction informs perceptions of climate justice, focusing on what narratives have been the most effective, and what potential these strategies have to grow. Determining such will occur by analyzing selected works and searching for thematic patterns to look at their effectiveness in expanding public perception. This research highlights the role of fiction in shaping climate narratives, examining how it has framed the urgency of environmental responsibilities and inequalities as well as how it can align rather than diverge from contemporary climate justice discourse.