3 tips for helping the environment through creativity

(NC) Addressing climate change can sometimes feel like an overwhelming challenge. But for some, creativity can be a powerful tool to drive change: art and storytelling have a power to move people, connect communities and inspire action in ways that facts and figures often can’t.

Artist and activist Natalie Man, founder of the Coral Foundation, understands that power well. With the help of initiatives like the Ocean Wise Action Grant, she combined immersive art on ocean conservation and competitions for developing solutions to environmental challenges to make a difference. Here are three ways she used her creativity to make an impact that you can use yourself to make a difference for the environment:

1. Use art to inspire connection and awareness.

   Art can shift perspectives, spark emotion and remind people of what’s at stake. Whether through painting, music, photography or sculpture, creative expression helps make environmental issues feel personal and urgent.

2. Turn ideas into community projects.

   Big change often starts small, with a single idea and a group of passionate people. It can be as simple as noticing litter piling up near a local park and organizing a cleanup with an artistic twist, like turning found materials into community art.

   You could create a “repair café” where people can fix rather than toss household items. There are uncountable ways to get started: an unused space can become a pollinator garden, or a mural can raise awareness about ocean plastics. These ideas might start small, but they can inspire others and grow into movements that strengthen both communities and ecosystems.

3. Collaborate for greater impact.

   Creativity thrives in collaboration. When people with different backgrounds, skills and passions come together, they can spark ideas and solutions that no one could achieve alone. Imagine an artist teaming up with a scientist to visualize climate data, or a storyteller helping a conservation group share their message in new ways. Collaboration allows creative ideas to grow stronger, reach more people, and create lasting change.

   It also builds connection—a reminder that protecting the environment isn’t something we have to do on our own. By sharing ideas, learning from one another and working side by side, people can have a greater impact and inspire others to take part.

Creativity helps us imagine new futures, communicate complex ideas and connect to the world around us in meaningful ways. Your creativity can help build a more sustainable, ocean-positive future. Learn how at ocean.org/youth.

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The Ocean Action Grant Program, supported in part by Canada Service Corps, helps young Canadians lead local environmental projects focused on ocean health and sustainability.