ABSTRACT
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Synthesis Report is a challenging read for non-scientists, with the public often relying on journalists to mediate the data for us (IPCC, 2023). However, their repetition of IPCC word choices such as “to limit warming below 2°C” or “to reach net zero” may convey an urgency but are hard for the public to relate to. These critical climate mitigation targets are potentially becoming meaningless and leave the public feeling despondent, disenfranchised, and unable to act. Research into climate change communications increasingly shows that people do not shape their attitudes or alter their behaviours by analysing expert information or making rational cost-benefit assessments. Instead, they are swayed by stories that feel meaningful, narratives that align with their values and identity, are shared by trusted individuals, and are reinforced by the social norms.
Giant puppets, as large-scale visual representations (as street theatre) in public space, can provide a unique and compelling next-generation approach to climate communications. By drawing from the disciplines of cultural studies and social and climate sciences, they can evoke emotional responses, engage diverse audiences, and challenge conventional ways of thinking. Giant puppets can imaginatively re-envision the climate crisis to offer a break from dominant dystopian narratives and open space for alternative, hopeful, or more nuanced visions of climate futures. Drawing on practical experience of working with socially engaged giant puppetry, the authors explore the value of giant puppetry in creative climate communications, making a case for further and future use of the medium—not as a data communication tool but as a proposed complementary communication method.
