A graphic novel series tackling the climate crisis made its debut on Earth Day, April 22, at the British High Commission in Vigie. Titled Climate Tipping Point, the 12-part project, a collaboration between SOLORICON Ltd’s Caribbean Climate Justice Project and Youth IRIE, aims to fuse art, science and activism to inspire climate action across the Caribbean and beyond.
The launch event drew government officials, environmental advocates and youth leaders, spotlighting the power of storytelling in the fight against climate change. The first three instalments – Silent Heat, Survivor, and Raging Waters – were unveiled, with copies distributed to attendees and available globally via Amazon and BookBaby.
Leandra Pinel, representing British High Commissioner Amy Quantrill, called the series a “pivotal moment” for regional climate awareness.
“We are not just here to celebrate a publication, Pinel said. “We are here to recognise a pivotal moment in our collective journey toward understanding and addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time – the climate crisis.”
Dawn Pierre-Nathoniel, Saint Lucia’s Chief Sustainable Development Officer, echoed the urgency.
“Whether we are talking about scorching temperatures and droughts, forest fires with impacts on human health, on livestock and crops,” she said, “whether we are talking about sea level rise and the loss of beaches and coastal settlements, buildings and infrastructure, salt-water intrusion into freshwater supplies and agricultural lands, social, economic and environmental loss and damage and impacts, also on mental health, the situation is getting increasingly dire.”
Dr James Fletcher, founder of SOLORICON and architect of the Caribbean Climate Justice Project, shared the origins of Youth IRIE, which was launched in 2024, and its mission to involve young people in the energy transition.
“… We have been looking at climate change, but there is also a need to look at the energy transition and how we move away from using fossil fuels to using the abundance of renewable energy we have – the sun for solar, wind,” he said.
The graphic novel series, conceptualised by Fletcher, was brought to life by writers Dawn French and Milton Branford Jr, with graphic design contributions from an African team. Branford emphasised the power of storytelling, saying it can engage, sensitise and influence people at a much deeper level.
French explained that graphic novels rely not on fiction but on fact, citing the project’s reliance on rigorous research.
The Climate Tipping Point series is wonderfully illustrated with captivating graphics and visuals to go with the compelling storytelling. However, the urgent calls to action on climate change issues are not lost.
