Seeing the Unseen: Illustrating Climate Change Through Graphic Journalism

The chapter explores the potential of graphic journalism as an innovative medium for communicating the complexities of climate change. By analyzing La Revue Dessinée Italia, an Italian magazine dedicated to graphic reportage, the chapter examines how this format merges narrative and visual storytelling to address the scientific, social, and political dimensions of the climate crisis. Combining textual and visual content analysis and interviews with editorial staff, the study identifies how the magazine navigates challenges in climate change communication—such as temporal and spatial distance, abstraction, and the apocalyptic framing—by leveraging comics’ unique ability to visualize abstract phenomena and foster emotional engagement. The findings reveal how the magazine effectively communicates climate change’s causes, consequences, and solutions while integrating a broader intersectional narrative that connects environmental advocacy with social justice issues. By situating its analyses within theoretical frameworks of climate justice and media studies, the chapter highlights the role of graphic journalism in fostering public understanding and engagement through intersectional, localized, and action-oriented narratives.