Writing Climate Fiction That Changes Minds

How can we communicate climate change in a way that inspires joyful action rather than climate anxiety?

Drawing on 20 years of projects, from theatre and musicals to hairdressers, whodunnits and rom-coms, Denise Baden, professor of sustainability at the University of Southampton and founder of the Green Stories project and Habitat Press, shares what she's learned about embedding climate solutions into fiction that measurably shifts readers' attitudes and behaviours.

We'll draw on Green Stories' Climate Characters project to explore how fictional characters shape the values and habits readers absorb from those they love, asking whether problem- or solution-focused storytelling better inspires sustainable behaviour, how to balance utopian and dystopian narratives, and where fiction fits into the fight against AI-generated disinformation. You'll learn the do's and don'ts of writing to promote climate action, and how to write climate fiction that moves readers without lecturing. Come away with both the research and practical tools to write it yourself. All levels welcome.

This event is part of the Green Libraries Hub project, a national programme led by CILIP and funded by the National Lottery, exploring the libraries' role in supporting communities to take climate action.

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