Fictional projections, anticipated catastrophes: the power of climate fiction in addressing the environmental crisis

Climate fiction has become an increasingly relevant genre for exploring the environmental challenges facing our world today. This paper reflects on the absence of social and political engagement with the environmental crisis and the potential role of climate fiction to spark empathy and inspire action towards the issue. Furthermore, the paper examines three works of climate fiction—The Netherlands Lives with Water by Jim Shepard, Venice Drowned by Kim Stanley Robinson, and The Living Mountain by Amitav Ghosh. Through the lens of these narratives, the paper explores how fiction can transcend the limitations of traditional scientific discourse by engaging readers emotionally and imaginatively. These stories detail ways in which to provide a more relatable and impactful means of communicating the urgency of the crisis. Ultimately, it argues for the value of climate fiction as a critical tool in motivating climate action.