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There are many different ways that we can tackle climate change.
One of them is to creatively communicate our hopes and dreams for a greener future.
Creativity can change the world. Poems can shift our perspectives and films can inspire us to take action. Whether through a song or a photograph, our ideas matter and we can encourage others to think differently about the world.
Need some ideas to kick-start your creative climate change project?
Check out how Noah and Simeon, part of eco-community choir ‘SOS from the Kids’, and their friends are exploring how songs, poetry and art can inspire people to take climate action.
Simone: Can you imagine how wonderful the world could be if we decided to live with nature in harmony? Clean air and ocean, no toxic poison chemicals. The forest teeming with animals, there's room for all.
Noah: This is the beginning of a song that we made up. Words have power. Just think of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement or Winston Churchill during the Second World War.
Amy: Creativity can come in so many different forms.
Alicia: A work of art.
Nayan: Poems about global warming.
Charlotte: Books.
Simone: Singing
Zaqiya: Documentaries.
Noah: When we started the choir, we asked lots of our friends if they wanted to join, They thought it was a really good way to get the helpful message across.
Amy: I know activists around the world who are brilliant songwriters and have written songs about climate change and environment that have brought me to tears.
**Charlotte:**I found that reading environmental related books like Environmental Dystopia has definitely challenged the way I think about the climate crisis.
I've also found reading poetry, for example, The Last Snowman by Simon Armitage, I found that really interesting to read about, but also quite emotive.
Amy: The power of art to bring people together and to start conversations is extraordinary.
Nayan: One conversation could be the start of a great friendship.
Charlotte: When I was doing art at school other students and my friends, sometimes they'd do their art based on the environment and asking them about their artwork and what it meant to them was a really interesting way to actually learn more about those issues.
Amy: I know from my own experience that films and art have inspired me to change my behaviour and to care about environmental issues.
Alicia: There was an artist where he uses like scrap metal to create sculptures.
Then it kind of makes us think, what could I do with the that cans I have at home? It encourages other people to also be creative and I just love that.
Nayan: If you'd like to get started making creative work, let's say let your mind loose and don't restrict yourself in any way.
Alicia: Be experimental. Do you not limit yourself to telling your environmental story in one way.
**Nayan:**There's no wrong way of being creative.
Zaqiya: Use your talents, creativity doesn't necessarily have to be photos or paintings it could be through theatre, it can be through dance, it can be through music, being able to just express in the way that suits your talents and everyone has got a talent.
Find your why
Think about why you want to do something about climate change. Has a specific event sparked an idea in you? Or was it because of something you saw on TV? Understanding your motivation can give your creative project a clearer purpose.
Whatever the reason, there are lots of different ways you can express your views – you can compose a song, write a poem, or any other piece of art.
Great works of art challenge your perspective, make you look at life in a slightly different way and can even propel you to take action. But you don’t have to be great to start. Being creative simply means being able to explore different ideas and figure out ways of doing things differently.
Connect with others
Art is important because it makes it easier for us to talk about difficult stuff – like the climate crisis. For example, you may find it easier to have a conversation with a friend or family member about it through books, poems or TV shows.
When you connect with others through art, you create an opportunity for challenging conversations to happen. This builds trust and gives you a chance to learn something new about yourself and others.
It’s always useful to see a massive problem like climate change through different lenses. Sometimes it may be hard to feel like there is a solution, but connecting with others through art or stories may spark brilliant climate action ideas.
Enjoy other people’s art
If you’re stuck or don’t know where to start, you may find it useful to look for examples of art and writing on climate change. Social media and streaming platforms can be a great source of inspiration, and places like libraries and museums are filled to the brim with interesting reads and artefacts.
You could also think back to when you’ve been inspired by a piece of art or a story about nature or climate change – this can be a photograph, a poem, or a speech. Thinking about how it moved you can help you figure out your style and how you want your art to inspire others.
Make your mark
Once you’ve understood why you want to start expressing your hopes and ideas about climate change, why not start putting pen to paper and jot your rough ideas down? You don’t have to get it ‘right’ the first time, so just write whatever comes to mind. Start small and keep going.
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