Storytelling is Driving Climate Solutions at DC Climate Week

Smart, creative, dignified, and emotional-driven communications are more important than ever in the fight to shape today’s climate agenda.

In this short Q&A, we hear from filmmakers, artists, and organizers who are shaping the climate conversation at DC Climate week through events, art experiences and dialogues. Whether you’re a start-up founder, policymaker, or advocate, here’s why this theme should be part of your DC climate experience, and what to mark on your agenda:

• The Marketplace of the Future - Thursday May 1 | 12-10 pm | Register here

• Storytelling for Climate Impact - Tuesday April, 29 | 6:30 pm | Register here

• A Persistent Nature - Thursday May 1 | from 6 - 8:30 pm | Register here

Q1: Why is storytelling so important in this moment? 

Ali Syverson - Visual Artist and Writer - Live Painter at MOTF:

Storytelling is the oldest form of sharing information – and it instills and passes down important traditions, values, and cultural significance throughout history. Stories oftentimes center human experiences and emotions, and stick with us in a way that data oftentimes does not. But – we’re seeing many stories on the internet being taken down due to misalignment with the political powers at be. I was a storyteller and a writer for USAID, and I saw many of my own stories scrubbed from the public record in the past few months. This reality has made me think more simplistically about storytelling and come back to the roots of how stories used to be told before the internet, censorship, and algorithms dictated the information we are able to consume. Some of the oldest forms of stories were painted on rocks and walls, many of which have withstood the test of time and elements. I think we are within a period of time where we need to be rethinking the way we communicate with each other, and telling stories in mediums that withstand changes in technology, political swings, and information systems. For me specifically, that looks like telling stories through visual arts in the form of acrylic paintings, but for others, that could also include other formats of storytelling like spoken word, photography, documentaries, and dialogues in community forums. 

Q2: What storytelling techniques within your artistic medium have you found most effective at creating emotional connections to environmental themes?

Michelle Whiting - Filmmaker - Film Curator for MOTF: 

Focusing on human-centered storytelling – how people are connected to their local environments, impacted by climate change, and inspired by nature – is one of the most effective ways to facilitate emotional connections to environmental themes through film. Dignified storytelling also matters, and it’s important to make sure you have the time and space to be able to sit down with the folks you are filming and ask them about how they want to be portrayed and make sure they are included in discussions around telling their own story. Human-centered storytelling is more likely to allow people to connect with environmental themes than data would alone. 

Ali Syverson - Visual Artist and Writer - Live Painter at MOTF:

For my visual art practice, I have found that creating paintings with environmental-themed images, colors, and movement – with a level of abstraction – is a great way to get the audience to interpret the pieces in a way that fits with their own experiences. I am in awe of detailed landscapes and location-specific paintings because of their technical quality, but, if we are looking to use art as a tool for activism, I think it is important that the subject matter is somewhat abstract so that the masses can connect with the art or story in a way that feels personal to them. For example, a painting that looks like a wave, or a canopy of trees, can conjure personal and vivid memories, nostalgia, or reverence for the natural environment that the viewer has personally experienced. This feeling will hopefully help the viewer reflect on what they can do on an individual basis to conserve and protect our shared resources. 

Q3: Why do stories have more impact than facts alone when communicating complex issues?

Ali Syverson - Visual Artist and Writer - Live Painter at MOTF: 

Climate and environmental data are usually reported on a macro scale, with many statistics and numbers included. This is certainly helpful for tracking progress or trends throughout history, but oftentimes fails to be relatable to the general public. When communicating about complex issues, like climate change, it is helpful to tell a story about how a human’s life is uniquely intertwined with the topic at hand. A story about a person’s lack of access to water due to drought, or a decrease in crop harvest and family business profits because of changing weather patterns, or a home that was destroyed from a wildfire – these are the kinds of stories that people will feel viscerally towards – and hopefully, they will remember the story, and be further compelled to act.

John - Lemon Tree - Showing Films at MOTF: 

According to some studies, stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone. Good storytelling makes complex issues relatable, evokes empathy, and provides the starting point for discussion of the pros and cons of a policy debate or data point. Many people feel climate issues in their personal lives every day, whether they live in rural or urban areas, and whether they use the term “climate change” or not. And people agree that climate change is a challenge we should address. But in an age of misinformation, mistrust of traditional sources of information, and politicization of science, building lasting climate solutions requires people to feel the need for change. Authentic stories can help cut through the noise and help people understand the importance of urgent action.

Q4: How can folks expect to engage with storytelling during DC Climate Week? 

Kate Thomas - MOTF Workshop Facilitator - Our Refuge in Nature - A Drop-in Reflective Workshop: 

At DC Climate Week, attendees can expect to engage with our stories as a collective and as individuals. Many of us are facing instability, reflecting on our trajectories, and planning our next steps. This week can serve as a space for folks to think about how they want to present their stories and find pathways forward. 

One of the beauties in life is that we get to shape our stories. The most basic story formula is that the character experiences a hardship that transforms who they are. 

This season in American history is fraught with personal and collective hardship. Are we focused on avoiding the pain and moving on? Or are we willing to sit with the grief, loss, and challenges in this season? 

It’s not always intuitive to stop and simply look at the hardship we are experiencing. It takes time to be ready for it. Yet I would argue that reflection is the healing balm we need to rewrite our dreams and plans for today and tomorrow. Nature continually welcomes us to spend time reflecting. It slows us down and also has many stories to teach us about finding refuge and hope after a disaster. We can rebuild together. Come write your next story by paying attention to what is. 

Storytelling events to check out during DC Climate Week: 

• The Marketplace of the Future, scheduled for Thursday, May 1, from 12-10 pm is a “World’s Fair” style expo showcasing innovative solutions to climate change. The event contains 50 organizations that cover solutions across the five primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions: Energy, Transportation, Food and Agriculture, Buildings, and Industry, as well as education, advocacy, and conservation. “MOTF” is a new take on the 1939 New York World’s Fair, which was dubbed “The World of Tomorrow” and featured new inventions such as the fluorescent light bulb, air-conditioning, and television. At MOTF, you’ll meet organizations creating innovative solutions that will exist in a net-zero future. You can come experience a live painting session with Ali Syverson, an art workshop with Kate Thomas, a short film from John Toner and Emily Thomas, plus a film lineup curated by Patricia Chourio and Michelle Whiting.
  
  

• Storytelling for Climate Impact, scheduled for Tuesday April 29 from 6:30 - 8 pm, will feature discussions delving into the art and science of impactful storytelling, communication strategies, and policy advocacy. In an age of polarization and policy pendulum swings, our expert panel will explore how story can build bridges, key storytelling trends, success stories, and how to craft compelling narratives that resonate across the divide. Sign up here
  
  

• ⁠A Persistent Nature, scheduled for Thursday, May 1, from 6:00 - 8:30 pm, is a one-night, pop-up art exhibition hosted at Poplar Grove, one of DC's healthiest homes. The show explores the way nature and art are borne of persistence. Both involve tireless experimentation, iteration, and growth. The exhibition considers this commonality through works from 19 climate-focused artists who are persevering amid a D.C. community undergoing change and volatility. In persisting, these creators prompt visitors to interrogate how they can practice their own versions of persistence for the benefit of the environment - whether that be through nature-based solutions, policy and advocacy, or climate innovation and technology. You can see artwork from Ali Syverson if you join this event. RSVP and view event details here.