2024 Planet Forward Summit Solutions for survival: storytelling and creativity to save the planet

There is no denying the magnitude by which the climate crisis is growing each year. We’re in an urgent search for solutions.

At the 2024 Planet Forward Summit we spent two days learning how creativity and storytelling can spark hope and action and how that can help our planet survive.

Check out the full Summit Youtube playlist above or explore our coverage below.

For our first panel of the day we sat down with three Planet Forward student storytellers and National Geographic Chief Storytelling Officer Kaitlin Yarnall.

Envisioning nature and place as characters in our stories allows audiences to connect and engage with them more powerfully. Students reflected on the importance of storytelling as a way to reach new and diverse audiences and explored the different ways that their pieces created connection with readers.

Farron Taijeron shared about his video on conservation efforts in Guam:

“My audience is the kind of people that wouldn’t be in this room. There’s a lot of us kind of preaching to the choir. I'm trying to bring more people into the room, so the people who would not ordinarily hear the messages that we have to share.”

Owen Volk emphasized the importance of breaking down the bigger picture for the audience in his piece about how a hockey team at Syracuse University is conserving water. Owen reflected on the process of weaving statistics into a story and the decision making behind figuring out what information is most impactful for an audience.

Jessica Stahl from Grist emphasized the critical role of framing in storytelling, especially in the realm of climate reporting. As the editor for creative storytelling at Grist, she highlighted that framing involves deciding how to present a story; what key aspects to focus on and what messaging to intentionally convey to the audience. Stahl advocated for moving beyond narratives solely focused on problems, instead emphasizing the importance of highlighting solutions and envisioning the positive future that can be built.

Panelists Rachel Frazin, an energy and environment reporter at The Hill, and Jesse J. Holland, Associate Director at SMPA, echoed these sentiments by stressing the need for nuanced storytelling. The conversation pointed out the pitfalls of narratives that only highlight either the problems or the solutions, emphasizing the importance of capturing the complexities in between. Frazin highlighted the role of understanding the audience—knowing what resonates with them and what they are looking for in stories about climate and environmental issues.

Holland added that journalism is not merely reporting facts but involves actively choosing what information to prioritize. He underscored the necessity of thoughtful framing to effectively communicate stories amidst the constraints of time and deadlines. The panel collectively advocated for journalists to outline stories in advance, balancing discussions of problems with insights into potential solutions to engage and inform their audiences effectively.

Explorer's story: On the frontiers of discovery

Halley Hughes, a 2023 Storyfest winner, conducted an interview with Siguror John Einarsson, a systems engineer at Carbfix. In the interview, shared with the Summit audience, Hughes reflected on her time visiting the Carbfix igloos during her trip to Iceland with Planet Forward.

Carbfix is an Icelandic company that aims to convert CO2 into stone to combat climate change. Einarsson shared that the company started from an idea by Iceland's president to bury CO2 underground where it mineralizes rapidly. According to Einarsson, within two years of the company’s operation, 90% of buried CO2 had turned to stone. Carbfix’s next project, Sea Stone, explores incorporating saltwater into this process, to reduce global freshwater use, although it's only viable in limited global areas.

How we told it: Turning vital data into moving stories

The panel discussion centered on the transformative power of data in storytelling and addressing climate challenges. Moderator Matt Scott guided a conversation with Juan Declet-Barreto, who emphasized using weather and climate data to convey the urgency of the climate crisis to policymakers. He highlighted how combining hard data with personal experiences can unite communities and drive solutions, illustrated through interactive maps showcasing extreme weather patterns across the United States.

Dr. Neelu Tummala underscored the human impact of data, stressing that data represents real people affected by climate change, such as patients in her clinic experiencing health issues exacerbated by environmental shifts. She emphasized the role of data in creating a narrative that connects scientific findings with human experiences, advocating for proactive measures to address environmental risks for patient well-being.

“Data helps create a new narrative by connecting the dots between what the data and the science is showing but then also what people are feeling.”

Anna Shah contributed a perspective on using data for community engagement and sustainability. She discussed her initiative, Pop Thrift Shop, which uses data from campus surveys to shape a sustainable shopping experience that is inclusive and empowering. Anna highlighted the importance of data-driven approaches in making sustainability accessible and relevant to a broader audience.

Throughout the discussion, there was a consensus on the importance of storytelling to complement data, emphasizing that personal narratives and representation in stories are critical in driving meaningful action and policy change in response to climate challenges.

How we invent it: New venture competition

The students pictured above took part in GW's New Venture Competition and pitched their idea for Astra Fabrics, a brand that sells sustainable fabrics online and incorporates a QR code to share the story of the fabric with consumers in an effort to promote transparency with regards to sourcing materials. The intended market is consumers who care about sustainability and ethical sourcing.

The intentional combination of a technology company, a renewable energy company, and a traditional manufacturing company brought us a conversation about how storytelling and narrative crafting is used to bring sustainability to consumers in the modern business world. We explored the power of connecting with communities through a clear mission statement and messaging. The story of an organization’s past, present, and future is a powerful tool in the world of public perception and response. Businesses across the panel shared the effectiveness of having a clear story rooted in the company’s history and using it as a guide when introducing sustainability into the conversation.

Artealia Gilliard reflected on the sustainability journey of Ford Motor Company and the story of Ford as a legacy company, coupled with what they’re doing now.

“It’s realizing what Ford has done in history and the power of what we could do...I think you have this know-how within Ford of how to do something really big and really transformative and the challenge is the narrative. The challenge is how do we create a vision in people’s minds that is enticing enough that they want to be part of it.”

The panelists agreed on the need for people to be educated and engaged, to meet them where they are, and to start at a place of shared values.

Cassandra Garber reflected on the changing landscape of the technology industry, explaining that sustainability is now talked about as a business imperative. At Dell, the story of sustainability is in continuity with the story and values that the company has always implored.

"Every tool that you can think of for storytelling is applicable here; data, the business aspects, heartstrings, every type of communication is relevant and necessary in this space. We need every type of communication to move every type of person, know your audience and what you want them to walk away with.”

Iliatchik: Perspectives from the Indigenous Correspondents Program

In this panel discussion from the Indigenous Correspondents Program, Mickki Garrity, Nizhoni Tallas, and Abby Burgess passionately reflected on the transformative power of storytelling within Indigenous communities to address environmental sovereignty and social justice issues. Throughout the discussion, there was a shared conviction that storytelling not only educates but empowers, offering pathways to reclaim narratives, challenge stereotypes, and propose sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges. The panelists collectively emphasized the urgent need for mainstream media and educational institutions to authentically amplify Indigenous voices, ensuring their perspectives shape inclusive and equitable approaches to environmental stewardship and social justice worldwide.

“Stories tell us how to be human, they tell us how to be good relatives, they tell us how to live together, and how to be good ancestors," Mickki said. "[This is] relevant to the idea of environmental sovereignty and climate change because at the root of this human-made problem is who we are being as humans, and whether we’re being good humans or not”

Abby Burgess touched on the importance of inter-generational oral storytelling in native cultures, explaining how essential information is often passed down.

“In the same way that our stories have existed for centuries and centuries, so have our knowledge systems about the environment and the places we live in... It’s important to listen to indigenous voices when they say 'Hey I know how to manage this environmental problem' because we’ve been doing this forever”

In her video about moose hunting, Burgess worked to raise awareness about food insecurity in native communities, reflecting on colonialism’s role in the food system today.

In 2016 National Geographic photojournalist Andrea Bruce was tasked with covering open defecation in the Global South. The uncomfortable nature of the topic made it difficult for scientists and politicians to address. In her presentation she reflected on how to make the uncomfortable or unimaginable something that people will pay attention to.

Bruce highlighted several key questions to ask and methods to employ while walking the audience through her storytelling process. She began with asserting the need to have an open mind and to conduct research with a "wide net" in order to find the scope of the story. It's important to verbalize the "why" of the piece.

In this panel discussion, moderator Michelle McCauley and Planet Forward contributing students explored the transformative power of creativity in advocacy and storytelling. The three students reflected on the stories they had created in non-traditional forms and the resulting impact they felt was had on audiences.

Joy Reeves from Duke University discussed the impact of comics and visual storytelling in engaging audiences and inspiring social change. She stressed the importance of empathy in storytelling, using comics as a medium to bridge understanding and convey complex issues effectively.

Mykah Scott from Tuskegee University shared her experience visiting the Ford plant and the Henry Ford Museum, where she was inspired by the overlooked contributions of George Washington Carver to sustainability. She spoke passionately about using art and creativity to advocate for recognition and representation, merging her artistic craft with political advocacy to amplify underrepresented stories. Her artwork is pictured on screen in the above photo.

“I’m really interested in creating advocacy through creativity. Communicating through art and language is always what I’ve done and want to continue to do, [to] combine my artistic craft with politics and art. Art has always been political... I want stories like this to be told everywhere so it’s not just black history but history that everyone is aware of."

Chris Zatarain from the University of Arizona emphasized the deliberate and collaborative approach needed in storytelling to tell the lives and experiences of individuals in an authentic way. He highlighted the role of community in sustaining engagement and fostering meaningful connections in advocacy efforts.

Overall, the panelists underscored that creativity not only enhances communication but also serves as a powerful tool for social advocacy and cultural representation. They emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives and collaborative efforts in creating impactful narratives that resonate across communities and inspire meaningful action.

Best Written Story by a Media Student: Delan Li (University of Connecticut), “The Climate Necessity Defense: How activists are using civil disobedience to fight climate change”

Best Written Story by a Non-Media Student: Mickki Garrity (University of Minnesota), “Making Home: A story of beaver and babies”

Best Multimedia Story by a Media Student: Laura Isaza and Sachi Kitajima Mulkey (University of California Berkeley), “Looking back on Alto Maipo: Hydropower and controversy in the Chilean Andes”

Best Multimedia Story by a Non-Media Student: Joy Reeves (Duke University), “Your friendly neighborhood spider-party: Community scientists use spider webs to monitor air pollution”

Best Video Story by a Media Student: Jason Marmon and Daniel Stipanovich (Arizona State University), “Sweltering Saguaros: Survival in a changing desert”

Best Video Story by a Non-Media Student: Micah Seidel (Rutgers University), “Growing Gigas - Martin & Delphia Selch Kosrae giant clam farm”

GW Pick: Ayah Mahana (George Washington University), “Gen-Z’s calling: One youth-climate org works to turn anxiety into action”

Spotlight Award: Beverly Ndifoin (Notre Dame University), “Namé Recycling: Combining revenue, jobs, and sustainability”

Ted Turner screening: A sneak preview of Blue Carbon, a new feature film coming soon to CNN

With post-screening discussion with Nicolas Brown (Director, "Blue Carbon"), Jen Howard (Vice President, Blue Carbon Program, Conservation International), Angela Fritz (Senior Climate and Weather Editor, CNN), moderated by Danielle Nierenberg (President, Food Tank)

Impact:

In 2024, we are pleased that we had more than 300 in-person Summit attendees, representing 50 universities from across the country and internationally. Additionally, 255 people streamed the Summit on YouTube. We had 509 people register to attend in-person.

Students and faculty from 50 universities were represented.

A big thank you to our generous sponsors!