Anyone who’s read a good book knows how life-changing it can be. From non-fiction that examines the most pressing issues of our time, to stories that bring those issues to life, reading shapes how we understand the world and the change we want to see.
That’s especially true when it comes to climate change. The pen, as they say, is mightier than the sword, making literature a crucial part of the peaceful road to change. That’s why, to celebrate National Writing Day, we’re platforming a cohort of authors, spanning non-fiction, kids books, cli-fi and memoir, who have put pen to paper to explore the climate crisis, inspire action and offer hope for a green, fair and peaceful world.
Tori Tsui
Tori Tsui is a climate justice campaigner and author. She is a Senior Advisor for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and Climate Justice Lead for Brian Eno’s Earth Percent. Her debut book It’s Not Just You was shortlisted for the Wainwright prize and explores the structures of harm that drive the climate and mental health crises. To solve these intersecting struggles, Tsui argues, we need to embrace community whilst learning from and honouring the resilience of those on the frontlines of climate change.
Emily Buchanan
Emily Buchanan is a campaigner, creative and author. She’s worked alongside non-profits for over a decade, helping organisations like Green New Deal UK, Organise and The Story of Stuff Project use creativity to amplify their message. Set in the near future, her debut novel, Send Flowers, is being published next week. It highlights the importance of community in surviving the climate crisis and uses magical realism to speak out against the crackdown on protest rights.
Mikaela Loach
Mikaela Loach is a climate justice activist, author and speaker. She organises with grassroots climate movements like Fossil Free Books and The UK Black Eco Feminist Collective. Their debut book It’s Not That Radical won the Non-fiction Author of the Year award for its fresh take on climate change. Loach’s new book, Climate Is Just The Start, came out this year. Aimed at school-age children, it offers an inspiring message for kids who want to learn about climate change and start building a better world.
Dr. Mya-Rose Craig
Dr. Mya-Rose Craig is an ornithologist, environmentalist and diversity activist. She won the Young Conservationist of the Year Award and received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Bristol University. As well as taking action on wildlife loss, she’s the president of Black2Nature, an organisation that campaigns for equal access to nature. Craig has published three books, two for young people and a memoir called Birdgirl that documents her journey towards seeing half of the world’s species of birds – making her the youngest person ever to do so.
Charlotte McConaghy
Charlotte McConaghy is a novelist with three books under her belt and a prominent voice in the cli-fi genre (climate fiction). Her first novel, Migrations, was a TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year. Her second, Once There Were Wolves, was an instant best seller. Her third, Wild Dark Shore, was published this year. Like her previous work, the novel explores humanity’s relationship with nature, combining romance and thriller to drive the message home.
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