We are at a crossroads with climate change upon us. Yet, we have not responded with the urgency that is required for a crisis of this magnitude. Manifesting the boiling frog syndrome, we sweat and swelter in the heat, rather than take decisive actions that can put brakes on the impending disaster threatening our planet.
If climate change is a market failure, is climate inaction a communication failure, partially? If so, where scientific research and data alone have not been able to bridge the gap between information and climate action, what role can art and artists play? How can we inspire a meaningful change by delving into an artist’s understanding of climate change? Research has shown that visual narratives help people process and respond to situations more effectively than dry facts alone.
Art can evoke emotions, trigger deep critical thinking, facilitate communication across fields of research and between diverse stakeholders, while, most importantly, enabling participation in solving the problem. Beyond communicating and documenting climate science, art can help overcome psychological barriers to climate action and act as ‘an emotional motor for behaviour change.’
Evoking an emotional response to climate change is critical—research has shown how emotional distance is one of the most important barriers to climate action. CSTEP’s event, eARTh, is an effort at inspiring climate action through art.
Register here for the event.