About CONSTRAIN
Climate Comics
Comics to tackle the climate challenge
The worlds of research, science and comics have been brought together to deliver a powerful message about climate change.
Three leading comic creators have collaborated with the CONSTRAIN project, a consortium of 14 European partners tasked with improving near-term climate projections, to develop comics exploring the climate change challenge.
The comics are designed to reach a wide audience, beyond the scientific community and will be shared online and through social media. The comics will also have a presence at two of the UK’s leading comic conventions and will be used during the build up to the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28 in the United Arab Emirates in November 2023
The artists involved are award-winning comic creator Darryl Cunningham, satirical comic creators War & Peas from Germany and comic creator, academic and illustrator Sayra Begum.
The comics feature satirical conversations between migrating polar bears and penguins, a trip to a museum of climate futures and a discussion with a climate sceptic about the importance of taking positive action.
CONSTRAIN is an €8 million, 4-year programme of research and engagement, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme. Led by the University of Leeds, the CONSTRAIN consortium involves 14 partners and around 50 researchers from 9 countries across Europe.
“We want to make sure our research can reach as many people as possible and this means finding new and creative ways to tell climate change stories. The artists’ response to our challenge has been incredible and we are delighted to be able to share the results for all to see and read. This project has demonstrated clearly that comics are a powerful way to communicate the biggest challenges our planet and humanity face.”
Dr Debbie Rosen, CONSTRAIN’s Science and Policy Manager
CONSTRAIN has also been collaborating with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, an annual celebration of the world’s best comic creators held each year in Bowness-on-Windermere. CONSTRAIN will be part of the festival this year which runs from 29 September to 1 October 2023.
“Comics are an incredibly diverse art form with the power to reach new audiences and to connect with people visually, emotionally and with lasting impact. This important project will certainly help wake up new audiences to the climate crisis and I firmly believe comics have the power to change the world. The comic creators have done an amazing job.”
Julie Tait, Director of The Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The world’s warmest day ever recorded was on July 6th this year. July 2023 is considered to be the warmest month in the past 120,000 years. Scientists agree this extra heat is linked to fossil fuel use. Decarbonising our world and reaching net zero carbon emissions by no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is now critical to all life on this planet.
