With ecosystems in crisis, engineers and scientists are using AI to listen and decode the signals whales are sending out to better understand how to save their habitats.

How to use AI to talk to whales

PlantGang is a decentralised community of citizen scientists, researchers, and plant enthusiasts dedicated to protecting and immortalising nature through 3D-scanned specimen collections.

PlantGang

People are struggling to balance their climate anxiety with their desire to act, looking for a balance point between paralysis and rage.

What to do with climate emotions 

Environmentalists are warning about how climate catastrophe will exacerbate existing systems of discrimination.

Queer environmental activists warn of LGBTQ+ people 'suffering first'

People are gathering inspiration from the gender fluidity of plants to better understand their own identities.

The queer lives of plants 

An Inuit-developed social networking app is helping communities pool generational knowledge to better manage climate effects in the far north.

Nunavut

Biotech is putting carbon footprint at the forefront of cosmetics development, offering a blueprint for how eco-conscious innovation can change the world.

Biotechnology is revolutionising skincare

Amid the housing crisis in America, compact and tiny living spaces are gaining popularity as people are priced out of typical US homes. Tiny home supplier Cosmic Buildings simplifies access to ADUs with modular homes, customisable eco-friendly features, and off-grid options that reduce labour.

Cosmic Buildings make tiny eco-smart homes a reality in the US

Google has partnered with local environmental agencies in Australia to study giant kelp forests, which play a vital role in the underwater ecosystem. The partnership shows how technology can underpin important conservation efforts and is part of Google’s wider environmental initiative.

Google uses AI to help restore Tasmania’s kelp forests

Furniture company Dowel Jones champions Australian-made furniture and embraces authenticity amid new market dynamics. The brand’s pillars of durability, timeless design, and emotional resonance effectively negotiate what it means to do functional design in the modern day.

How Dowel Jones puts fun in functional Aussie furniture

Able to explore the natural world through 

, people are warming up to the idea that technology might bring them closer to environmental solutions. Despite initial scepticism, 

 of US adults are hopeful that ‘AI can do positive things in the world’. As buying into 

 and beauty products gives people a heightened hope of surviving scorching heat, people are building 

 from plants, as if ushering in a world where the digital and the natural are intertwined.

People are engaging their senses to connect with nature, from what they taste to what they watch. Across sectors, we’re seeing an uptake in 

 as a genre, and a newfound willingness to consume anything from 

 highlighting the LGBTQ+ side of plants to the rise of ecofeminist narratives, intersectional ecology is cementing its place in culture. Meanwhile, academics, researchers, and Tiktokers alike are calling for the protection and platforming of 

 in everything from construction to digital life. Throw in the influencers questioning society’s hyper-normative, gendered standards for what it means to 

, and nature discourse is becoming a site of reinvention.

People are becoming aware of how the systems that underlie the climate crisis are interwoven with those that engender inequality for minorities and underrepresented communities. They want to see more underrepresented voices speak for the natural world. Brands can show support by decentring themselves from the narrative and spotlighting authentic voices to speak to climate change.

Diversify sustainability 

Technology is becoming an essential site of individual agency in the face of the climate crisis. People want to see AI used with a purpose. Brands can differentiate themselves as caring innovators by using the technology for education, research, and enhancement of sustainability practices and by providing better transparency of their involvement.

AI for climate agency

People are seeking out natural experiences that feel tangible and personal. They’re no longer content with theoretical knowledge of the environmental crisis and want to feel more involved. How could brands deliver more personalised, people-first climate initiatives and campaigns?

Make it personal 

To transcend climate apathy and the politicisation of the environmental narrative, people are connecting with nature through their senses and their feelings. Instead of leaning away from climate anxiety and the emotional intensity of the crisis, consider activations that give people permission to feel the emotional toll of climate change – hopefully inspiring action.

Emotional environmentalism

Leaps in artificial intelligence have equipped individuals with the tools to design, experiment, and create beyond their 

. This has implications for how people understand and envision the possibilities of tech solutionism. As innovation pushes society into an experimental, creative state of mind, individuals and industry titans alike feel inspired to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible, online and off. Techno-optimism in relation to the climate crisis is on the rise.

AI creativity 

Watching the gravity of the climate emergency unfold before their eyes, people are realising that structural change and institutional action are crucial to abating the environmental crisis. Yet companies, governments, and social institutions have normalised climate rollbacks, ineffective leadership, and 

. Desperate for different modes of engagement, engaged citizens, frontline communities, and younger generations are craving leadership that feels community-led and targeted.

Non-committal environmental agents 

 number of devastating climate disasters, global warming is entering people’s homes and personal lives. Where climate change might have once felt like an abstract concept, it now feels immediate and physical. Wary of the impacts of droughts, floods, and wildfires, 

 is bleeding into everything from people’s home-buying decisions to their family planning and daily purchases. As a result, climate solutionism is becoming a personal interest as much as a collective mission.

Visceral climate change

People feel an extreme disconnect from nature has become the norm, especially for urban populations. In response, a renewed appreciation of nature is rising – and more multifaceted than ever. People recognise the mental, spiritual, and physical benefits of engaging with nature, whether forest bathing, ecotherapy, or a psychedelic retreat in the wilderness. At the same time, there’s a sense of urgency to that connection, as people seek to appreciate climate diversity and destinations of natural beauty while they still can.

Rewilding the self 

Meet the people and groups most impacted by Eco Imagination

The detrimental impact of the climate crisis on mental health has been a reality for Gen Z and Alpha for the duration of their lives. As a result, their perception of environmental issues is much more embodied, close, and personal than that of their predecessors. Their approach to making change is pushing the boundaries of eco-activism, from vandalising world-famous artworks to filing climate lawsuits against governments. Aware of the state of the planet they will inherit, they’re open to radical and inventive measures and innovations.

Eco-anxious youth cultures 

Activists are increasingly drawing links between social injustice and climate change, and people are angling for more diversity in the conversation. This opens the field for a more inclusive, diverse, and broad range of voices keen to connect challenges and opportunities across social movements. LGBTQ+, feminist, and Indigenous activists are taking their place in imagining alternative proactive futures.

Intersectional voices

The tangible effects of climate change – from shortage of resources to extreme weather – are disproportionately affecting frontline communities, many of them Indigenous or part of the large population of the Global South. This brings on a quest for rapid, creative solutionism, and unconventional methods to mitigate the crisis where it hits heaviest.

Frontline communities

Technological acceleration and the advancement of AI are unlocking radical possibilities for change, and a new crop of experimentalists are seizing the moment. From architects and scientists to technologists and business leaders, people are keen to integrate technology into their work, learn from natural systems, and reinvent humanity’s place in the Anthropocene. Techno-optimism is opening new avenues of hope for solving the climate crisis, even though experts point out that the expectation is two-fold and could 

be a potential distraction from direct action

Tech experimentalists

French start-up Neoplants is genetically modifying plants to be home air purifiers, targeting indoor pollutants. Tapping into the pandemic-spurred interest in houseplants and rising desire to live sustainably, the company is helping people find eco-friendly solutions to everyday climate issues.

Neoplants' modified house plants purify the air

Here We Flo is breaking down barriers in the sustainable sexual health space by creating eco-friendly, innovative products. Its organic and biodegradable items sit alongside a powerful marketing strategy that empowers people of all genders to feel comfortable taking ownership of their bodies.

Here We Flo: tackling taboos through eco sexual health

The surprise success of a Japanese book proposing degrowth to deal with environmental issues echoes the sentiments of young people eager to break with a status quo of political and economic pessimism. How can brands respond to the needs of this growing cohort and its feelings about the future?

Why is degrowth resonating with Japanese youth?

Sky Canvas, the first human-made shooting star project, is engaging the next generation of space enthusiasts and sparking interest in climate research. As eco-anxieties rise, brands and organisations may inspire optimism and foster resilience by building communities with their audiences.

Immersive climate experience engages eco activists

People in India are increasingly opting for eco-friendly mud houses that are cheaper and allow them to feel closer to nature. As people look to form stronger connections with the outdoors and national culture, as well as practice natural stewardship, they're looking for alternative living solutions.

Eco-anxious Indians are opting for natural mud homes

Favela Orgânica is challenging the status quo in Brazil's marginalised communities, using nutrition education and sustainable practices to combat food waste and promote healthy living. Local initiatives like this are emerging as agents of change in a nation afflicted by escalating food insecurity.

Favela Orgânica: pioneering sustainable living in favelas

Amid growing climate anxiety, people increasingly realise that sustainability measures they used to rely on might not be as effective as they’d hoped. Recycling and carbon offsetting draw criticism as people turn to anti-consumerism and fresh sources of authority among local community-minded activists.

Eco Rethink

Australians care deeply about the future of the environment and support brands that feel the same way. At Re, a bespoke cocktail bar in Sydney, drinks are crafted from recycled food waste without being preachy, standing ground as an ally of a growingly eco-conscious Australian market.

Re Bar: innovative cocktails from recycled food waste

Luxury brand Stella McCartney has partnered with The Chopra Foundation, a leading mental health organisation, to redefine wellbeing by harnessing the healing power of horses. The collaboration highlights how companies can show leadership in mental health while being true to core values.

Stella McCartney spotlights the power of horse therapy

O Boticário unveiled Extinto, a fragrance evoking the pre-pollution scent of Brazil's Guanabara Bay. With 18,000 litres of sewage dumped per second into the bay, Extinto aims to emotionally and viscerally connect people to environmental loss, urging responsible habits amid dismal recycling rates.

O Boticário captures the scent of pre-pollution Brazil

In Brazil, smart tech is helping cities provide eco-friendly solutions to everyday issues, while digital developments within agriculture are similarly promoting sustainability in rural areas without affecting efficiency. How can the country’s efforts serve as an example for planet-first policies?

How Brazil uses tech to enhance climate action

The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' campaign by the Agency for Nature appeals to Gen Z women seeking an escape from hustle culture and a connection to nature. Despite the positive impact nature has on mental health, many young Britons feel disconnected from nature, causing them to seek it out. 

Agency for Nature pushes for rewilding rustle culture 

Solar terms that mark seasonal shifts are often used in Chinese customs, but brands have recently been using them to revive tradition. With young Chinese citizens seeking a connection to nature amid modern pressures, promoting breaks in nature for wellbeing can also help strengthen ties to culture.

Solar campaigns in China resonate with exhausted Gen Zers

4,590%

9.6 million

 to climate change, people’s experiences of the environment are leaving little room for individuals to deny that weather has become more dangerous and unpredictable than ever in recent history. New times call for new measures. How can brands think outside of the box regarding environmental issues?

People feel the need to save the planet, but between inflation and unrewarding habits like recycling, they feel discouraged and detached from conventional climate solutionism. How could brands create action-based climate initiatives and multisensory immersions that feel engaging and empowering?

People are increasingly disappointed by institutional and governmental inability to instigate positive change, instead seeking a more decentralised and inclusive approach to collective action. How can brands become the new leaders in climate responsibility?

People are striving towards Eco Imagination to cope with climate stress, connect with nature and like-minded community, and plan their milestones in a crisis-ridden world. Yet, they’re often held back by the financial constraints and existing habits.

Lifecycle

People are looking for experimental, inventive ways to engage with a planet in crisis 

As extreme weather events and record-breaking heat become the norm, climate change has moved beyond future fears and become a present-day reality. On average, 

of people worldwide report that climate change has already severely impacted where they live. Permanently changed, erratic weather patterns are colliding with people’s 

The immediacy and scope of this new ‘climate abnormal’ is creating friction at all levels of society. Despite the fact that 

 people across the globe believe humanity is ‘heading towards environmental disaster unless we change our habits quickly’, the way forward feels ridden with tensions. Individuals feel fatigued by brands’ and institutions’ 

 – they want change (but less so if it forcibly alters their lifestyle). More than 

 of Europeans believe countries would be more effective at tackling climate change by working together, but few can agree on what that work should look like.

A desperate need for change is rubbing up against a society set in its ways. As a result, people are warming up to the idea that the path forward into the climate-adaptive future will require creative, experimental modes of thought more entrenched in imagination than in our current status quo. Luckily, the AI boom and experimental cultural moment that it’s brought about are creating space for new, accessible ways of experimenting, designing, and imagining the world.

This new synergy is ushering in the era of Eco Imagination.

Emboldened by the possibilities of decentralised creativity and incentivised by the rapid decay of the environment, people are re-imagining their relationships with nature. They’re imbuing the nature narrative with the new, experimental, and unconventional, whether by warding off climate anxieties at 

 or instigating equitable climate futures through ecofeminism and 

. Where recycling no longer cuts it, people are exploring ‘

 to build computers. Individuals are looking to create transformative connections with the natural world. With the help of new tools and resources, brands can deliver the kind of regenerative environmental strategies necessary for humanity to survive (and potentially thrive) in a new climate reality.