Announcing the Climate Creators to Watch in 2024
Social media creators who are changing the climate narrative through creative and engaging content
Los Angeles, CA - Pique Action and the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE) today announced their third annual list of Climate Creators to Watch in 2024. These creators are recognized for creating social media content that is innovative, optimistic, and likely to inspire broad audiences to stay engaged and take action on climate change.
In an election year when climate change is on the ballot, social media creators are helping voters understand the climate and health impacts of burning fossil fuels and galvanizing people to take action. According to Pew Research, the number of U.S. adults who regularly get their news from TikTok has more than quadrupled since 2020, from 3% to 14%. Creators not only reach millions of viewers online, but are making a real-world impact by influencing the climate debate and using their platforms to educate and inspire action.
“There’s been a collective awakening to the power of solutions-oriented storytelling in climate,” says Kip Pastor, CEO and Founder of Pique Action. “This is a pivotal year for climate communications and these creators have the power to provoke positive change.”
According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, 56% of Americans are feeling “alarmed” or “concerned” about the climate crisis, with one in ten Americans reporting feeling symptoms of anxiety or depression about climate change. Content that inspires hope is essential to combat feelings of doom that can lead to apathy and disempowerment.
“Climate hope leads to climate action,” says Skye Flanigan, program director at Harvard Chan C-CHANGE. “That’s why we need creators who are clear about what’s at stake in the climate crisis, but who also help people feel empowered to take action rather than become paralyzed by fear. That’s what these creators are so good at, and why we want to amplify their voices.”
Together, the creators on this list reach over 4 million followers. Their ability to reach wide audiences from diverse backgrounds and their commitment to sharing accurate, evidence-based information, makes these creators influential players in getting audiences more engaged in climate change.
“The most powerful tool we have for building a better future is our stories,” says creator and climate psychologist Jessica Kleczka. “Through my work, I aim to touch people's hearts, spark outrage and hope in equal measure, and rekindle the fierce love we all have for our beautiful planet and its people.”
Simon Clark, a YouTube creator and science communicator, says he tries to improve climate literacy, “with humour and by experimenting with the intersection of the climate with different aspects of our lives.”
“In order to make long-term, meaningful change, I believe the climate movement must focus on transformative collective action that celebrates people’s varied interests, capabilities, relationships, commitments and strengths,” says Joycelyn Longdon, a creator and environmental researcher and educator.
Creators on the list advise Harvard faculty, staff, and students on science communication best practices. Past creators spoke at the Youth Summit on Climate, Equity, and Health held in Boston. They were featured in New York Times, Teen Vogue, Axios, and CBS, spoke at the World Economic Forum, COP28, and were invited to a briefing at the White House.
Check out this year’s list:
Dave Borlace (London, England) - For making climate science accessible to millions of YouTube viewers.
Simon Clark (Bath, UK) - For answering climate questions with a healthy dose of science literacy.
Sumak Helena Gualinga (Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador) - For bringing Indigenous knowledge and expertise to the fight for nature.
Elise Joshi (Oakland, CA) - For demonstrating how to be a climate activist with joy and courage.
Jessica Kleczka (UK) - For fighting climate anxiety from her “hobbit house on wheels”.
Joycelyn Longdon (UK) - For teaching us how to listen to nature.
Michael Mezzatesta (Los Angeles, CA) - For sharing how economic systems can work for climate solutions.
Veronica Mulenga (Lusaka, Zambia) - For educating about climate racism and justice.
Shelby Orme (Austin, TX) - For her sustainable living hacks.
Bodhi Patil (Vancouver BC, Canada) - For centering the ocean in climate solutions for health and equity.
Maya Penn (Atlanta, GA) - For harnessing the power of art, animation, and fashion to make positive change.
Anna Sacks (New York, NY) - For taking dumpster diving to the next level.
Elizabeth Sherr - (Costa Rica/Honduras) - For telling ocean stories that inspire climate action.
Jacob Simon (Brooklyn, NY) - For sharing daily positive climate news and solutions that keep us informed and inspired.
Navya Singh (Goa, India) - For her international reach and perspective on embracing climate solutions.
Meg Haywood Sullivan (Sausalito, CA) - For communicating the complexities of nature through art and photography.
Franziska Trautmann - (New Orleans, LA) - For tackling glass recycling and restoring wetlands in Louisiana.
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About Pique Action
Pique Action is a new media startup that aims to change the conversation around climate by producing content that elevates solutions and drives action. Since 2022, the company has released over 500 videos, including 40 micro-documentaries on climate innovators through its series NextNow. It’s the opposite of doomscrolling. For more information or to sign up for the newsletter, visit www.piqueaction.com.
