Abstract

This visual essay utilizes satire on a political cartoon to create imagery which criticizes both the economic and political denial of global warming while also showing the environmental consequences of climate change. With irony, contrast, and research from organizations NASA, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this essay argues that political rhetoric and misinformation want wealth and power instead of actual scientific evidence and important environmental actions. 

 

The Denial of Global Warming

This image was created using AI-assistant digital tool DALL·E-3 

This visual essay dives into climate change and the overall political and economic denial of it while showing the consequences of it all too. The picture shows political officials disregarding global warming very confidently whilst being in a damaged environment which is being succumbed to global warming. This environment is shown through wildfires, droughts, record breaking temperatures, and glaciers being shrunk. With irony and the use of contrast, this picture criticizes the harmful disconnect with the environment we live in and political rhetoric. 

What im arguing with this visual essay is that the denial of climate change is not only a matter of the science supporting it being right or wrong but also being a way of avoidance which has been created to support systems which aid greed and power politically. By adding in the phrase “common sense not hysteria” I wanted to display how using these phrases brush the scientific warnings of global warming under the rug and shift the opinion of the public. Placing the political officials in the foreground and making them a large part of the picture while the damaged environment lays behind them is to show how these damaging narratives that get pushed out by these officials take over the societal discussion even though there is literally evidence which explains why what they’re saying is just not true. The ruined land in the back serves as evidence that what the officials are saying is not true and global warming is in effect. 

I wanted to make the picture a political cartoon as its satirical nature has been used as a way of social criticism for a very long time now. The contrasts and strange expressions mixed with the slogans used creates a discomforting tone while also making you think about the deeper meaning of it all. The speakers all seem very happy even though there is a bleak and desolate land behind them creating this irony which shows the consequences of spreading the misinformation which is so frequently spread by people who have a large amount of power. With the use of the black and white in the picture, it adds to the mood as it makes the world look lifeless which is effectively what global warming is doing. The little bit of color in the picture being used on the ways of global warming like the wildfires is to amplify the importance of them showing further that these are actual harmful problems that cannot be brushed under the rug.

With creating this picture I wanted to include the imagery that is usually used in political campaigns. This was done by adding in signs and also putting text on the hats to fit the semi subtle nature of political cartoons, these are carried by the audience which say “Facts don’t pay bills” and “jobs first”, these show the arguments very commonly used in discussion to deter action to be taken against global warming. While economic issues like needing more jobs is certainly a big problem that needs to be solved, there are even bigger economic risks involved with ignoring the danger of global warming which includes harsh weather, less crops, and catastrophic environmental damage.

With research I was able to further shape the visual aspects of this political cartoon. As stated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human caused greenhouse gas emissions have unquestionably warmed the planet and intensified environmental disruption. This shows that global warming is getting worse and worse due to human created greenhouse gases but is seen as okay by a lot of the public as it creates more jobs. Another piece of research used is from NASA’s climate research as they document rising global temperatures, shrinking ice sheets, and more frequent extreme weather events. These pieces of information are shown through elements in the picture like the drought and shrinking glaciers in the picture.

In conclusion, this political cartoon is created to encourage viewers to think for themselves and believe in the science of urgent issues like global warming rather than listening to political figures that may be lying about or undermining issues like these so they can gain power or wealth. Through the visual aspect of it, viewers can really notice that global warming is a real problem which needs action immediately. The usage of satire shows that denial in global problems can cause severe consequences. 

 

Works Cited

NASA. “Evidence.” Science.nasa.gov, NASA, 23 Oct. 2024,

science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence/. 

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IPCC. Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report. IPCC, 2023, www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_LongerReport.pdf. 

 

The visual essay image was created using the AI-assisted digital illustration tool DALL·E-3,  DALL·E 3 | OpenAI