Climate change communication, adaptation, and mitigation through the arts: a rapid scoping review.
7 affiliations
- 1Research Division of Care in Long-Term Conditions, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
- 2School of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
- 3Jameel Arts & Health Lab, NYU Steinhardt, New York, NY, United States.
- 4Environmental Studies & Sciences, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, United States.
- 5Department of Theatre, Dance and Performance, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- 6Earth and Environmental Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- 7WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
Introduction
Climate crisis is inherently intersectional; it is a health crisis and a cultural crisis too. Creative and innovative approaches are essential to address the complex and unequal health and wellbeing impacts of human induced climate change. This rapid scoping review aimed to review, synthesise, and analyse empirical studies that implemented arts-based interventions to promote climate change communication, adaptation, and mitigation.Methods
We used the methodological framework for scoping reviews set out by Arksey and O'Malley and systematically searched five major electronic databases using the PRISMA reporting guidelines.Results
Sixteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Programmes varied and included environmental art festivals, climate summits, ecological conferences, theater and open-air performances, exhibitions, musical events, fieldtrips, nature conservation and sustainability interventions. Most studies focused on climate change communication, using the arts to raise environmental awareness and translate public health messages more clearly and accessibly. Only four studies focused on climate change adaptation (e.g., arts for coping with climate emotions) and mitigation (e.g., arts for motivating cultural shifts towards low-carbon lifestyles and practices).Discussion
Arts-based programmes focusing on climate change adaptation and mitigation are disproportionately low compared to climate change communication, signalling missed opportunities to leverage the benefits of the arts. Arts-based programmes delivered to public and outdoor spaces attracted audiences who were not previously interested in the arts and/or climate change, demonstrating the capacity of the arts to reach diverse audiences. Analyses of aesthetic qualities in climate-related artwork suggested that awe-inspiring nature depictions that gently motivate reflexive thinking on environmental issues were viewed more positively compared to artwork that instils didacticism and propagandization. The most impactful arts-based programmes combined emotional and cognitive activation-equipping the public with both the emotional investment and the knowledge needed to take collective environmental action, such as engaging with policymakers. Our findings suggest that the arts can help the public move beyond viewing climate change as an abstract concept, towards envisioning the tangible possibility of a different future. We argue that stronger policy integration, sustained research investment, and enhanced cross-sector collaboration are essential to realising the full potential of the arts in advancing climate communication, adaptation and mitigation, and we propose strategies to advance these priorities.
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BibTeX
@article{moula2026climate,
title = {{Climate change communication, adaptation, and mitigation through the arts: a rapid scoping review.}},
author = {Zoe Moula and Marinela Natsi and Elisabeth Bahr and Sammi Munson and Ian Garrett and Tarah Wright and Ameer Shaheed and Nisha Sajnani},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1804107},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909252},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Climate change communication, adaptation, and mitigation through the arts: a rapid scoping review.
AU - Zoe Moula
AU - Marinela Natsi
AU - Elisabeth Bahr
AU - Sammi Munson
AU - Ian Garrett
AU - Tarah Wright
AU - Ameer Shaheed
AU - Nisha Sajnani
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in public health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1804107
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909252
AB - Introduction Climate crisis is inherently intersectional; it is a health crisis and a cultural crisis too. Creative and innovative approaches are essential to address the complex and unequal health and wellbeing impacts of human induced climate change. This rapid scoping review aimed to review, synthesise, and analyse empirical studies that implemented arts-based interventions to promote climate change communication, adaptation, and mitigation.Methods We used the methodological framework for scoping reviews set out by Arksey and O'Malley and systematically searched five major electronic databases using the PRISMA reporting guidelines.Results Sixteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Programmes varied and included environmental art festivals, climate summits, ecological conferences, theater and open-air performances, exhibitions, musical events, fieldtrips, nature conservation and sustainability interventions. Most studies focused on climate change communication, using the arts to raise environmental awareness and translate public health messages more clearly and accessibly. Only four studies focused on climate change adaptation (e.g., arts for coping with climate emotions) and mitigation (e.g., arts for motivating cultural shifts towards low-carbon lifestyles and practices).Discussion Arts-based programmes focusing on climate change adaptation and mitigation are disproportionately low compared to climate change communication, signalling missed opportunities to leverage the benefits of the arts. Arts-based programmes delivered to public and outdoor spaces attracted audiences who were not previously interested in the arts and/or climate change, demonstrating the capacity of the arts to reach diverse audiences. Analyses of aesthetic qualities in climate-related artwork suggested that awe-inspiring nature depictions that gently motivate reflexive thinking on environmental issues were viewed more positively compared to artwork that instils didacticism and propagandization. The most impactful arts-based programmes combined emotional and cognitive activation-equipping the public with both the emotional investment and the knowledge needed to take collective environmental action, such as engaging with policymakers. Our findings suggest that the arts can help the public move beyond viewing climate change as an abstract concept, towards envisioning the tangible possibility of a different future. We argue that stronger policy integration, sustained research investment, and enhanced cross-sector collaboration are essential to realising the full potential of the arts in advancing climate communication, adaptation and mitigation, and we propose strategies to advance these priorities.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -