The art of climate justice: scholars speak through art, advocacy, policy, literature, and faith

With the conclusion of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the urgency of the climate crisis echoes on a global scale. Graduate students enrolled in the ‘Social Dimensions of Climate Change in a Sustainable World’ course are creating bold responses to the climate crisis. Their Climate-Health Praxis Projects devised impactful climate adaptation programs, and create climate advocacy tools, literature, and art, to show that climate justice is not only a scientific endeavor but also a deeply human one.

“I encourage my students to think beyond conventional approaches, and apply their knowledge and creativity to develop impactful, solution-driven climate projects,” shares Ans Irfan, MD, EdD, DrPH, ScD, MPH, MRPL, director of digital learning and innovation and clinical associate professor of population and public health sciences at Keck School of Medicine of USC. Irfan is empowering the next generation of public health scholars to push the boundaries of climate advocacy and collective responsibility. “The climate crisis demands leaders who not only understand the science but are fueled by empathy, creativity, and the courage to act—qualities my students exemplify in every project.”

By challenging his students to bring their climate expertise into imaginative, real-world applications, Irfan is empowering the next generation to push the boundaries of climate advocacy and collective responsibility. Inspired by the COP29 global climate conference theme, ‘In Solidarity for a Green World,’ the student’s projects took on various forms reflecting their unique skills and passions. For instance, Mariam Khachatrian, a student in the online Master of Public Health program, created a project to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on oral health in marginalized communities. Through free dental services and educational outreach, Khachatrian highlights how environmental factors—like pollution and extreme weather—can worsen oral health issues.

Another graduate student, Lindsey Crozier, examined how climate change uniquely impacts individuals with multiple sclerosis focusing on heat sensitivity and mobility challenges during extreme weather, and sharing ways to protect their health and improve their overall well-being. Crozier offered adaptive strategies including accessible cooling
options and emergency preparedness tailored to their specific needs.

Liana Stepanyan, created a comic to raise awareness on the impact that lower-income communities face during wildfires caused by climate change. Stepanyan creatively highlighted how the lack of resources in certain communities during wildfires threatens their existence. Similarly, Kirandeep Chhokar authored a children’s book to illustrate the large-scale impacts of climate change on global communities with the intention of empowering future climate change leaders.

Irfan views the conference as a profound opportunity to empower his students to turn climate knowledge into action. “All the student’s projects are focused on collective climate action, forging solidarity, and helping us make progress towards a sustainable world —each one crafted to inspire climate resilience and a global sense of climate justice,” says Irfan. “Among the impressive submissions are climate stories, faith and climate action tools, climate education advocacy tools, climate adaptation tools such as air quality education, climate-conflict storytelling and calls for ceasefire, and middle school children’s curriculum that can be readily adapted by teachers.”

“Every project is a testament to the power of liberation pedagogy. They demonstrate that knowledge combined with passion can help students become the social change agents they were always meant to be, proving that when we imagine, we innovate; when we innovate, we inspire climate justice, no matter the circumstances,” says Irfan. By anchoring climate education in creativity, his course aims to bridge knowledge with advocacy, inspiring students to become leaders in climate action. The 2024 Climate Action Pedagogy Symposium exhibits these projects, allowing these future climate thinkers to engage the public with their journey from climate learning to climate leadership. We cordially invite you to review them.

View 2024 USC Climate Action Pedagogy Symposium