Announcing 16 Climate Creators to Watch in 2022

Los Angeles, CA - A wave of climate change educators and communicators are using social media to combat misinformation and inspire action. Pique Action and the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have teamed up to release their list of 16 Climate Content Creators to Watch in 2022. The creators on this list are making original, entertaining, and educational content that’s reshaping the climate narrative and empowering people to focus on solutions that improve their health and the health of the planet. 

“It can be a challenge to find climate content that’s actually entertaining and educational,” said Kip Pastor, CEO and Founder of Pique Action. “We built this list so that more people can benefit from the solutions-oriented content that these creators are making and to bring their work to a wider audience.”

After reviewing hundreds of videos, TikToks, and Instagram accounts, 16 climate creators were chosen for producing content that counters misinformation, serves as an antidote to “doom and gloom” messaging on climate change, and helps people stay engaged in the climate movement.

"Climate change is not a super popular topic at the dinner table, but we're not going to solve the climate crisis by ignoring it,” said Rollie Williams, creator of Climate Town. “I started Climate Town to talk about climate change in a way that doesn't make people want to burn themselves alive. I hope to get some climate facts in front of people who wouldn't normally hear them so they feel more comfortable riffing about it with their friends and family."

Young people are more likely to get their news on social media, which leads to more depression, anxiety, and stress versus consuming news on traditional media. The majority of young people are also worried and anxious about climate change, which can lead to apathy and inaction. The fossil fuel industry funded decades of misinformation campaigns on climate change that obscured the health and environmental risks of fossil fuels, politicized the science, manipulated public opinion, and delayed actions to address them, as detailed in Harvard research. But communications research has shown that including information about actions and solutions when talking about climate change can keep people engaged in the climate movement.

"Those of us in academia and public health have to improve our ground game on social media. The tragedy of misinformation around COVID is unfolding in real time, and the same thing is happening with climate change," said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, Interim Director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE. "We're tackling this issue directly by highlighting creators who can take complex topics and turn them into scientifically robust, digestible content that helps audiences channel their fears into action."

Harvard Chan C-CHANGE writes the Climate Optimist, a monthly newsletter that shares stories of climate hope and action, and runs Reel Science, a program to integrate climate solutions into entertainment content so that climate actions become part of everyday conversations. Pique Action launched in 2021 to focus on positive climate storytelling and to elevate the people in the fight solving problems to combat the climate doomism narrative.

Check out the list:

Kayla Anderson 

For highlighting climate solutions and actions through an extensive library of short informative videos. TikTok 

Xiye Bastida

For her active role in fighting for climate justice, for bringing joy and hope to the climate movement, and for serving as a role model for young people who want to get involved and take action. Instagram Twitter

Doria Brown 

For her upbeat videos that use dancing, music, and DIY ideas to highlight energy, science, sustainability, and science communication. Instagram TikTok

Genesis Butler

For highlighting the benefits of climate-friendly diets and building a platform to help people understand how our health and our planet’s health is deeply tied to the health of all of Earth’s living creatures. Instagram YouTube

Carissa Cabrera 

For capturing the beauty of nature with engaging imagery, connecting people to water issues, and creating resources for everyone to learn how to protect our oceans and marine life. Instagram TikTok 

Kristy Drutman 

For content that highlights intersectional environmentalism, environmental racism, and climate justice. She created her own media platform because she didn't see people who looked like her in the environmental reporting space. Instagram TikTok 

Pattie Gonia

For using art, creativity, and humor to help people find joy in the outdoors, fall in love with nature, and be inspired to join the climate movement. Instagram TikTok

Jack Harries 

For his solutions-focused documentaries that feature changemakers and personal storytelling to educate and inspire action. Instagram YouTube

Dr. Adam Levy 

For breaking down complex climate questions into science-based comedy sketches and using an optimistic narrative. Instagram YouTube 

Sophia Li 

For highlighting sustainable fashion solutions, telling compelling climate stories, and sharing strategies to stay resilient and strengthen mental health in the face of climate grief. Instagram Twitter

Dr. Peter Neff 

For showing how climate science can be fun, adventurous, and surprising by taking you behind the scenes of his climate research in Antarctica. Instagram TikTok 

Miriam Nielsen

For breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand videos that provide context for some of the biggest climate issues today. Instagram YouTube

Ross Reid

For teaching us about forests, the species that live inside them, and what we can do to protect them. Instagram TikTok 

Leah Thomas 

For developing an online community and educational resources that highlight the connections between protecting our planet,social justice, and creating a more equitable world. Instagram Twitter

Rollie Williams 

For creating videos in the style of a late night comedy news show, using investigative reporting on complex climate topics that makes you laugh out loud and feel inspired to take action. Instagram YouTube

Alaina Wood

For combating climate doomism and misinformation by breaking down climate science and headlines with easy-to-understand commentary, and creating weekly recaps of good news on climate. Instagram TikTok 

If you know someone who should be on this list, both within the U.S and across the globe, please nominate them.