Murals and Comic Books Help Raise Climate Awareness

Contributing Author

Saara Ranabhat, Graduate Student, San José State University

In coastal cities like Santa Cruz, climate adaptation isn’t just about high-level policies or scientific models, it’s about effective communication that reaches diverse communities. As a graduate student at San José State University, I assessed the effectiveness of murals and storytelling comic books led by the Coastal Watershed Council (CWC) in communicating climate risks and engaging vulnerable community members in climate planning efforts, especially in the Beach Flats and Lower Ocean neighborhoods. My use of GIS analysis revealed that few ocean- and river-themed murals are located in Santa Cruz’s most climate-vulnerable communities. Community surveys also revealed different levels of awareness and sense of preparedness to cope with climate risks among Santa Cruz’s community members, with Non-White and Beach Flats and Lower Ocean residents having a lower sense of preparedness than White and residents of other neighborhoods. Further, the results indicate that both murals and comic books have potential as non-traditional community outreach tools to raise climate awareness in accessible ways, as discussed below.

Mural of Chalchiuhtlicue designed by The Jams for the Nueva Vista Community Resources office at 711 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Murals: Bridging Art and Awareness

Murals are a natural fit for Santa Cruz, where environmental challenges intersect with a rich cultural scene. The Jams, artists-in-residence for CWC, organized a community mural painting event on April 27 and 28, 2024. This mural at the Nueva Vista Community Resources Office on East Cliff Drive depicts Chalchiuhtlicue (an Aztec water goddess) and portrays resilience and connection to nature, encouraging reflection on the San Lorenzo River’s role in the lives of local residents.

Out of 19 community members surveyed at the mural painting event, most were either Latinx/Hispanic or White, mirroring the City’s overall racial and ethnic distribution. Feedback from community members who helped paint the mural highlighted how such public art can reshape local relationships with the river and flooding: “It has caused me to think more positively of flooding on the San Lorenzo River,” one resident shared. The study found that nearly 95% of respondents felt the mural event helped them think more deeply about their relationship with the river, as shown in Figure 1. Further, almost all respondents (95%) felt they could relate to the mural and its characters.

Figure 1: Mural’s usefulness to community members in thinking about their relationship with the San Lorenzo River

The following quotes provide some insight into the emotions and feelings that the mural painting event raised for participants:

The survey reveals how the mural resonated emotionally with the community, fostering a sense of stewardship and heightened awareness of climate risks among participants from various backgrounds.

Comic Books: Engaging Youth and Families in Preparedness

Alongside the mural, The Jams designed a bilingual comic book titled Packing an Emergency Kit with a focus on youth and families in the Beach Flats and Lower Ocean neighborhoods. This engaging visual story highlights how to prepare for climate emergencies through a fun, narrative-driven scavenger hunt. A total of 35 community members were surveyed about the comic book at two community events, and most were either Latinx/Hispanic or White, mirroring the City’s overall racial and ethnic distribution. Survey feedback showed that the comic book helped families better understand local climate risks and made emergency preparedness feel accessible. One participant said, “Makes me happy, feels good to see educational information brought to the public in a simple, artistic expression.” Further, participant’s sense of preparedness significantly increased after reading the comic book, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Survey respondents’ sense of preparedness to deal with a climate or flooding emergency before and after reading the comic book

I also asked participants how useful the comic book was in helping them plan and prepare for climatic and flooding emergencies. Overall, 97.14% of respondents said the comic book was somewhat likely or very likely to help them in planning for such emergencies (Figure 3). The perception was the same regardless of neighborhood, race/ethnicity, and whether respondents had children or not. Further, a majority of respondents (88.6%) said they felt they could relate to the comic book and its characters.

Figure 3: Usefulness of a comic book in helping respondents plan for a climate or flood emergency

By translating complex climate information into a relatable format, the comic book proved especially effective at reaching families who may face language barriers or lack prior climate awareness. Respondents reported feeling better equipped to prepare for climate-related events, and many shared that the narrative format made the information memorable.

Key Takeaways

This research underscores the potential of murals and comic books as effective communication tools for engaging a broader audience. These non-traditional methods serve as entry points for meaningful conversations on climate risks and preparedness. For Santa Cruz and other cities seeking innovative engagement strategies, this study suggests that art and storytelling not only convey information but also foster community connections, bridging the gap between climate science and public understanding.

Ranabhat, S. (2024). Assessing the effectiveness of non-traditional climate change communication tools in the City of Santa Cruz. Master’s Theses. 5606. Department of Environmental Studies, San José State University. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.j4aq-mzbr