Making the Invisible Visible: For a Climate Future

Abstract: Climate change is rapidly transforming our world in ways both visible and invisible. Greenhouse gases—invisible to the human eye—cause climate change, with widespread impacts to which we now bear witness. Devastating floods and record-breaking heat waves are some more visible effects. There are others that remain mostly unseen. Making the invisible visible is at the core of this issue of Southern Cultures : using images and words from the contemporary South to show the ubiquity of climate change and how we all experience it. The latest climate science describes in stark detail a narrowing window for meaningful climate action. Despite the science, and policymakers' attempts to negotiate a solution, we haven't yet turned a corner on climate change. While we have the solutions to reduce emissions today, we lack the requisite inspiration and will.