Why Stories are the Best Tool for Climate Action

Evan I. Schwartz is an American author and screenwriter known for his work in climate, tech, and innovation.

On January 25th 2026, the LA chapter of the Climate Reality Project brought together climate advocates, creatives, and community members for an engaging event featuring award-winning author, writer, and editor Evan I. Schwartz. His talk underscored the power of storytelling in climate journalism, encouraging activists to move beyond climate nihilism and instead spotlight solutions and victories as a path forward.

As an early-career tech journalist, Schwartz was reporting on the internet at the height of its emergence. A pivotal moment came at the 2006 TED Conference, where Al Gore’s presentation on solar energy inspired him to pivot toward climate storytelling. At the time, solar had little foothold in the energy market and faced widespread skepticism, yet Gore was working to promote and fund the emerging solution. Within a year, Schwartz developed his breakout documentary, Saved by the Sun, exploring the future of solar energy.

Using his journey in climate storytelling as a foundation, Schwartz described how positive narratives can reshape public understanding of the climate crisis and reenergize people toward broader action. He emphasized that the biggest misconception about global warming is that it cannot be solved. While many activists feel they are still at war with climate denialists, he argues that they are engaging in a retroactive battle. To demonstrate that this problem is solvable, we must shift our focus from cynicism to optimism. Highlighting victories and creating stories that resonate with the general public can motivate people to search for solutions, especially when linking climate action to affordability, health, and other everyday priorities.

To illustrate the impact of storytelling, Schwartz framed the broader landscape through a striking football analogy that tracks progress, setbacks, and the need to move from defense to offense within the climate movement. Despite some notable “points scored,” we’ve also faced tremendous setbacks over the last few years for climate policy. The conversation concluded by acknowledging that we are playing a rigidly timed game and that our actions must engage on those terms.

Most recently, Schwartz published an article titled The Kelp Comeback, discussing the hope offered by the Palos Verdes kelp restoration project. Click here to learn more about Evan I. Schwartz and watch his talk on climate storytelling!