People, Power, and Perspective: Can Public Actions and Creative Industries Drive Change Together?

Most people know our climate is changing, yet few understand the actions that can be taken to stop climate change and even fewer implement these actions. Nathan will review the many diverse strategies available for mitigating climate change and introduce an approach to compare these on level terms. He will show, for example, how much wind power, reforestation, or electric vehicles must be deployed to reduce global emissions by 5%. Nathan will then reflect on the vital role of the public – and not just academics and policymakers – in selecting the strategies we choose to mitigate climate change.

The screen industries may not seem like obvious climate allies, but what if they could help lead the way? Film, TV, and video games shape the way we understand the world – and imagine our future in it. From post-apocalyptic wastelands to utopian green futures, climate storytelling has the power to inspire, alarm, or even mislead. Drawing on industry insights and emerging evidence, this talk explores how the stories we tell on screen can inspire real-world choices, shift social norms, and spark collective action. Can storytelling save the planet? Maybe not alone – but it might just help us believe we can