Ally Zlatar is a Youth Ambassador from the UK.
Each year, people in the UK come together to celebrate a week-long climate festival, called the Great Big Green Week. This festival, happening 10-18 June this year, is a time for people to celebrate community action to tackle climate change in the UK and beyond.
This year, ONE Youth Ambassadors in the UK are joining this initiative by organising actions in their local areas and online to fight for climate justice. Together, they want to show the UK government and the public how many people are willing to take action for climate justice. And I, a Youth Ambassador and artist in Scotland, am taking part in the Great Big Green Week too.
Here’s how.
Using art for climate justice
Artivism is a form of activism. It’s using poetry, music, visual art, or any other form of creative expression to raise awareness and influence change for an issue you care about.
I believe that art gives voice to the numbers, the stories, and the people affected globally by the climate crisis. I bring my art directly to individuals, leaders, and organizations, engaging them on a deeper, personal level. Through exhibitions, public billboard campaigns, workshops, and policy reform, I use my art activism to make a difference.
My artivism journey began with my own health struggles and the realization of the environmental harm caused by the pharmaceutical industry. Through art, I’ve sparked conversations, collaborated with top pharmaceutical companies, and offered sustainable solutions in the fight for climate justice. My recent project, Fragile Planet, supports mental health and climate awareness through auto-ethnographic perspectives, and is a platform for indigenous values in these conversations and artworks. Art truly amplifies our message of environmental responsibility.
Taking a closer look
To raise awareness and encourage conversations about our planet’s future, I set up an online exhibition to showcase my paintings. “Fragile Planet: Auto-Ethnographic Perspectives on Climate and Sustainability” invites people to reflect on the profound impact of human activity on our environment.
The paintings shine a light on the pressing issues surrounding climate change while offering glimpses of hope and resilience.
To me, it’s a way to raise awareness, inspire change, and mobilize individuals and communities towards a greener, more sustainable future. I believe that together, we can forge a path towards a more sustainable and resilient world.
