What On Earth! at HLF: Cartoons simplify complex topics about climate, energy

Hyderabad: What On Earth! (WOE), the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water’s (CEEW) flagship cartoon series, is being showcased at the Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) 2025.

The exhibition runs from January 24 to 26 at Sattva Knowledge City, HITEC City, and is free for all visitors. This marks an addition to HLF’s popular Climate Conversations stream, curated by Shreyas Sridharan and Urvi Desai of EkoGalaxy.

WOE: Translating Climate Science Through Cartoons

Since its launch in July 2021, What On Earth! has been using cartoons to simplify complex climate and energy topics.

Published every fortnight, the series addresses issues such as air pollution, sustainable food systems, clean energy, and climate finance. It reframes global environmental challenges to amplify the voice of the developing world and encourage mainstream discussions on sustainability.

Alina Sen, Senior Communications Specialist, CEEW, explained, “Cartoons have an incredible power to simplify complex ideas, evoke emotion, and cut across audiences. With What On Earth!, CEEW is adding comic relief to research and issues that may seem tough and technical so that people engage with them. Wit can take sustainability places, is what we have seen, given the response WOE has received in its various avatars as bookmarks, as digital creatives, on presentations, and as wearable and usable merchandise.”

Panel Discussion: Comic Relief for a Warming World

As part of the festival’s programming, a panel discussion titled ‘Comic Relief for a Warming World’ will be held on January 26 from 3 to 3:50 pm at Octave 3. Moderated by Alina Sen, the panel features Brikesh Singh, Chief of Communications and Engagement at ASAR and comedian Raghav Mandava. It will explore the role of humour in making climate communication engaging and impactful.

Visitors Respond to WOE’s Impact

The exhibition has sparked meaningful reactions among attendees, with many appreciating the simplicity and creativity of the cartoons.

Kritya Reddy, a college student, said, “I never thought I’d laugh while learning about climate change, but these cartoons made me reflect. It’s such a powerful way to communicate serious issues without overwhelming people.”

Manas Sharma, a marketing professional, shared, “The humour in these cartoons doesn’t take away from their seriousness. It’s actually made me rethink my daily habits—like the number of single-use items I consume.”

Nadia Shaik, a software engineer, added, “The messages in each of the cartoons are so thoughtful. From now on, I will think twice before ordering anything online, travelling solo in a car, and take a beat to decide before I exploit any of the Earth’s resources.”

Another attendee, Nitesh Bansal, an entrepreneur, commented, “Seeing these cartoons reminded me how small actions, like conserving energy or reducing waste, can collectively have a big impact. I’m going to share these ideas with my team at work.”

Mahi Joshi, a homemaker, said, “The cartoons make it easy to discuss climate issues with children. They’re relatable and can be a fun way to start important conversations at home.”

HLF’s Commitment to Sustainability

HLF 2025 continues its tradition of being a green festival. It has maintained its plastic-free practices, reused decor and infrastructure, served water in glass bottles, and encouraged attendees to use public transport and bring reusable bottles.

The Climate Conversations stream has brought together institutions like IIT-Hyderabad, Mongabay, and Sanctuary Asia, alongside renowned speakers like Bittu Sahgal, Soumya Swaminathan, and Romulus Whitaker, for workshops, panel discussions, and performances.

A Broader Initiative for Climate Communication

WOE is part of CEEW’s larger effort to humanise sustainability and climate action through storytelling, art, and media. Other initiatives include the Faces of Climate Resilience documentary series, the annual Sustaina India art exhibition, and the solar anthem Suraj Ka Gola. These projects aim to foster collective action for a sustainable future.

The inclusion of WOE at HLF underscores the growing importance of innovative communication tools like humour and visual storytelling in addressing global challenges like climate change.