Making The Movement Irresistible

Using Art and Media to Envision a Better Future

Gen-Z cares about the climate, so much so that it’s making us anxious. 

Climate anxiety, also called eco-anxiety, is psychological distress related to the climate crisis which can manifest through sadness, existential dread, and fear of environmental doom. Climate anxiety has been on the rise for Gen-Z with nearly half (48%) of young adults experiencing climate anxiety according to a survey from the American Psychologist Association.  

Gen-Z is fearful and unsure of what our future holds, especially as the devastating effects of global warming and climate injustice become more apparent every year. This generation has ultimately accepted the harsh reality of climate change and actively fights to stop it, while also grappling with slow-moving political action to mitigate the destruction.

I struggled to find ways to constructively cope with my climate anxiety, so I got creative and turned to the arts. I felt affirmed listening to Marvin Gaye’s song Mercy Me (Ecology). Written in 1971, this song brought the smooth and soulful sounds of R&B to the critical issue of climate change. Gaye paints a picture of our changing Earth and the perils of human exploitation of the natural environment. 50 years later, it's relatively rare to find songs addressing environmental devastation, with only a few mainstream artists tackling climate change in their music.

I also found comfort in another unlikely place: The Chobani “Eat Today, Feed Tomorrow” commercial. I was captivated, not by the yogurt being sold, but the artistic vision of the animation and storytelling. The commercial illustrated a breathtaking, sustainable future filled with abundance and beauty. I wondered why I didn’t see more visual storytelling like this, more depictions of a future Earth worth fighting for.

These two very distinct pieces — a 70’s song and a yogurt commercial — to me capture the crux of Toni Cade Bambara's quote: 

“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” 

Art is an essential outlet to confront the climate crisis, express climate anxiety, and sustain the heart of a movement. Media as an industry plays an important role in propelling the work of artists into the lives of everyday people, while artists are tasked with pushing the envelope and challenging media to mainstream emerging and innovative ideas. 

The relationship between art and media is a vital source of inspiration and validation for young people which is why it’s crucial that these mediums are used effectively in the fight against climate change. The movement towards greater reciprocity with the Earth must become irresistible to rouse and motivate the last generation that can address the crisis before we reach greater ecological devastation.

Climate art and media seek to do just that — to overcome the challenge of connecting human experiences to the data about our changing climate and to convey this information through accessible art forms to inspire change and social action. 

Some of the most prominent climate art and media, however, aren’t quite hopeful. Popular exhibitions in major cities like the Climate Clock remind us of the limited window left for climate action with an ominous countdown to the ecological tipping point. Movies and TV shows in particular lean into a sensationalized doomsday theme. Box office hits like “The Day After Tomorrow”, “Don't Look Up”, and “Interstellar” present the grim future we face without climate action, and popular shows like The 100 and The Handmaid’s Tale, with recent seasons setting streaming records, are also set after environmental disasters.  

These documentaries, art exhibits, and movies deliver a powerful message about what is at stake, and force us to reckon with a future where we live with the horrible consequences of our actions. But doomsday narratives have their limits. These fictional worlds can slowly begin to feel like an inevitable future, and being bombarded by messages of doom feeds into climate anxiety. This becomes especially dangerous as many young people shift from climate anxiety to a place of resignation with the climate crisis, and accept the doomsday messaging as an inescapable reality. Many Americans have already begun to develop defense mechanisms where they avoid information about the climate crisis and disengage with the data altogether. 

We need more art and media that focus on the other “what if”. What if we succeed in protecting our environment? And what better world awaits us if we do? 

Art and media that depict a hopeful future have the power to inspire people and make the fight for our planet feel attainable. SolarPunk, an art movement that emerged in the 2010s, focuses on building harmony between nature and technology. Elements of SolarPunk art can be seen in Studio Ghibli movies, the city of Wakanda in Marvel’s Black Panther, and in the recent Chobani commercial referenced earlier. Many other communities and emerging artists have also begun creating art and media that reflect their own cultural visions of the future of sustainability. Native American artists, like Christi Belcourt, are creating art that reflects diverse indigenous traditions and fosters a connection with the Earth. 

Musicians are also tackling the issue through lovely tunes that allow us to reflect on the world around us. Xiuhtezcatl Tonatiuh Martinez, Donald Glover, and Billie Eilish have made music in recent years discussing climate change. Glover reflects on environmental devastation and its effect on Black urban communities in his Grammy-nominated song and music video Feels Like Summer, and Billie Eilish’s All The Good Girls Go to Hell addresses forest fires and the lack of effective environmental policy. 

From movies depicting aspirational futures to melodies that express climate anxieties, climate art and media of all forms are pivotal in our pressing times. These pieces help us envision a sustainable world, give us the inspiration and motivation to continue to advocate for it, and remind us that we aren’t alone. Media as an industry must invest in diverse, bold, and innovative artists and stories that explore the issue of the climate crisis outside of just gloom and doom. As more young people become disillusioned with the idea that politicians will prioritize climate action, we need more art that makes a climate revolution irresistible. 

Cover Image: Mikyung Lee, Grist “Imagine 2200”

Kwolanne is a writer, student, gender equality advocate, and environmentalist. She is a senior at Columbia University studying History. Beyond the classroom, she’s worked at UN Women, Women Environmental Development Organization, and Malala Fund. She writes opinion pieces, essays, and nonfiction that bring nuanced and intersectional perspectives. Her writing has been featured in Salty Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Womanly, and the Columbia Spectator. You can find her on Instagram at @kwolanne.