Art Meets Climate Justice to Inspire Global Action

“Litter Flourish”- A collage by New York-based artist Juno Lam that represents the “amalgamation of the negligence people have for the environment”.

In the 1900s, global discussions around climate change and fossil fuel use reached new heights, leading to the emergence of climate change art. Since then, it has remained a key theme in contemporary art, with artists and corporations alike pushing messages of reform to instil urgency, concern, and shared responsibility in audiences.

The climate crisis has escalated sharply in recent years, with 2024 and 2025 marked by devastating natural disasters, environmental degradation, and significant loss of life worldwide. Despite decades of climate data, a large portion of the global population — particularly in the United States — continues to deny its existence.

Public understanding is often hampered by the complexity of scientific and political developments, while misinformation and disinformation on social media further obscure facts. Artists have long used symbolism, composition, and colour to convey urgent messages, and climate change art often portrays the environmental destruction caused by human activity, its disproportionate impact on marginalised communities, and the growing threat to human survival.

One such initiative is Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA), a three-year project by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). It aims to empower marginalised communities, promote sustainable practices, and provide environmental solutions to over 2.2 million people in high-risk areas.

On 10 June, SUNCASA unveiled its “Litter Traps and Art Project” in the Alexandra township of Johannesburg, South Africa. The installations reduce flooding, remove river waste, strengthen biodiversity, and inspire dialogue on climate action. Lead artist Hannelie Coetzee described them as “guardians of the river,” transforming discarded materials into symbols of care and ecological restoration.

In 2023, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM), Julie’s Bicycle, the Gallery Climate Coalition, and ART 2030 launched the Art Charter for Climate Action (ACCA) to recognise visual art’s transformative role in tackling climate change. Today, ACCA includes over 1,000 members from 70 countries, working with partners including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to aim for global net zero by 2030.

In New York, local artists incorporate climate reform and sustainability into their work. Brooklyn-based mixed-media artist Oriel Ceballos (OR1EL) is known for using gas mask imagery to highlight air pollution and the clash between urban life and nature. Illustrator and collagist Juno Lam repurposes found materials to address humanity’s role in the Anthropocene, encouraging sustainable reuse.

Multimedia artist and sculptor Ripley Rice works in bio-art, using biotechnology, ecological research, and striking visuals to engage audiences in environmental science. Their recent works include a confrontational deer portrait symbolising humanity’s encroachment on wildlife and experiments with biopolymers and fungal mycelium to explore nature’s resilience.

Across these efforts, artists blend creativity with activism, inspiring communities to confront environmental realities and imagine a sustainable future.