How the Art World Can Help Tackle Climate Change
As the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference takes place in Egypt, world leaders gather to find global solutions to the climate and ecological crisis. It seems timely to assess how some international environmental initiatives are harnessing the power of art to bring about meaningful systemic change.
It is great to see that art has finally been given its rightful place in society — especially as this wonderful medium helps us think differently and become changemakers of the world. The art world is sounding the alarm on the climate emergency — but are we really listening? Art can bridge the gap between the cold, hard facts of climate change and the emotions we need to feel to take action. In this way, art is essential to helping us feel the urgency of these challenges.
The Art World Responds to the Climate Crisis
In recent years, the art world has been making up for lost time. The momentum has been growing, particularly over the past six months, when more than a dozen exhibitions explicitly confronting climate change have been held across the world. Whether it’s a reflection of the rise in extreme weather events or a growing sense of responsibility, support for environmentally conscious art is clearly surging.
In June last year, the United Kingdom became the first major economy to commit to net zero emissions by 2050. It was emphasized that every sector must do its part to create lasting change — including the art world. As the effects of climate change accelerate, the need for transformation grows increasingly urgent. This year, 28 art organizations joined the World Weather Network on a yearlong project to document and reflect on weather conditions in diverse locales.
The Paradox of Climate-Themed Exhibitions
While exhibitions aim to raise awareness about climate change, the very process of organizing them — from transportation and fabrication to air travel and publishing — can generate significant emissions. This contradiction has prompted many galleries and museums to rethink their operations.
For instance, Jameel Art Centre in Dubai was among the first institutions in the Gulf to audit its environmental impact. It found that the majority of its emissions came from air conditioning and humidity control — and has since implemented strategies to reduce them. Similarly, other organizations are beginning to adapt their structures to address environmental concerns. Artists themselves often advocate for sustainable practices in exhibitions, though they note that such promises are not always fulfilled.
Artistic programming can also play an active role in reorienting public thought around climate issues. Governments, scientists, activists, artists, and designers all share a responsibility in keeping the conversation about change alive. Below are six ways the art world can help tackle climate change.
1. Reduce Emissions
Once an institution understands how much and where it is polluting, it can take active measures to reduce its carbon footprint. Transportation is a major contributor — can air travel be reduced? Can public transport replace private vehicles?
Many organizations are advised to follow the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This includes eliminating landfill waste, using reusable crates, and sourcing alternatives to bubble wrap. Investing in eco-friendly infrastructure and renewable energy sources for lighting, air conditioning, and heating is equally vital. Creativity in finding new ways to reduce waste is part of the solution.
2. Stage Environmentally Themed Exhibitions
While science plays a key role in communicating the urgency of climate change, art can reach people on a deeper emotional level. Artists can translate data and scientific findings into experiences that provoke thought, empathy, and action. Art can make the invisible visible — and help audiences understand what’s at stake.
3. Collect and Analyze Data
Institutions should measure their carbon footprints, track emissions, and assess their impact. Data collection helps identify where reductions are possible and ensures accountability for sustainable progress.
4. Rethink the Status Quo
The art world must reconsider its traditional models to promote sustainability. Instead of prioritizing ever-larger exhibitions or buildings, organizations can focus on smaller, more meaningful collections that require fewer resources. Shifting away from the culture of excess can lead to a more thoughtful and ecologically responsible art ecosystem.
5. Use Media to Influence Public Opinion
Media has tremendous power in shaping public perception. In some regions, climate change still receives limited coverage compared to other topics. Yet, by using platforms like television, social media, and print, the art community can amplify the urgency of the climate crisis and inspire people to act.
6. Encourage Human Empathy
Climate change challenges us to care about people we may never meet — to fight for their well-being as much as our own. Art can help cultivate that empathy. Through visual storytelling, artists can make the distant and abstract personal, helping us connect emotionally to the crisis and motivating real action.
Art, in its truest sense, is not just about creation — it’s about connection. As the climate crisis deepens, artists and institutions alike have a profound role to play in helping humanity not only see the change but feel it.
