Climate Change cartoons

Environment cartoon – desertification (black and white version)

Climate change denial cartoon

From my selection of environment cartoons about climate change and global warming

This is a black and white version of this cartoon.
See a colour version here
A cartoon of a person with his head buried in the sand, hiding from the fact that global warming is affecting the environment. The cartoon shows parts of the world turning to desert as a result of climate change and unsustainable development.

Original version drawn: 1991

Cartoon reference number: env008b
Climate change cartoons

Welcome to my selection of cartoons about climate change

To see my climate change cartoons please click on the image to the right, or click on climate change cartoons here
Global Warming Cartoons

Global Warming Cartoons

This illustration of a polar bear and penguins marching against global warming (and the melting of the polar caps) is one of many images that I’ve produced dealing with environmental issues.
You can see more by clicking the image.
Global warming cartoon. Penguins and polar bear march against shrinking polar ice caps

Global warming cartoon.

Global warming cartoon showing polar bear and penguins marching to protest against global warming and the shrinking ice caps.

One of the humorous points about this cartoon is that polar bears and penguins live at opposite poles (penguins in the Antarctic and polar bears in the Arctic), and thus never meet in normal circumstances (apart from in cartoons). In this cartoon the fact that they are in the same cartoon is meant to convey the notion of solidarity and of the whole world mobilising to fight climate change.
A cartoon about shrinking ice caps, shrinking polar caps, climate change, global warming.

Cartoon reference number: a021b

A longer version of this cartoon (with more penguins) can be found here, and a slightly different version here.
Global warming cartoon. A polar bear and penguins marching

Environmental cartoon. Global warming cartoon showing polar bear and penguins marching to protest against global warming and the shrinking ice caps.

One of the humorous points about this cartoon is that polar bears and penguins live at opposite poles (penguins in the Antarctic and polar bears in the Arctic), and thus never meet in normal circumstances (apart from in cartoons). In this cartoon the fact that they are in the same cartoon is meant to convey the notion of solidarity and of the whole world mobilising to fight climate change.
A cartoon about shrinking ice caps, shrinking polar caps, climate change, global warming.

Cartoon reference number: a021a

A narrower version of this cartoon (with fewer penguins) can be found here.
Carbon offsetting cartoon and rewinding cartoon

Environmental cartoons
Carbon offsetting cartoon and rewinding cartoon
The commercialisation of ethical activities

A cartoon about planting trees to offset carbon use as a commercial enterprise. The cartoon is about the privatisation and exploitation of environmentally directed enterprises.
It is also about rewilding, the practice of returning the environment to a pre-agricultural semi-wild and natural state.

A cartoon about carbon footprints, carbon trading, carbon offsetting, rewilding, wilding, planting trees

Original version of cartoon drawn: 2004

Cartoon reference number: env2309b
Environmental cartoons: Noah’s ark and climate change cartoon

Environment cartoon
A proposal to use an ark (like Noah’s ark) to rescue animals from floods caused by climate change

Climate change predicts rising sea levels that could cause catastrophic flooding

If climate change causes floods on biblical proportions is Noah’s ark the solution?

Cartoon drawn: 2007

Cartoon reference number: env078
Environment cartoon. Global warming graph in the form of Hokusai’s Great Wave

Global warming cartoon
Global warming graph in the form of Hokusai’s Great Wave

This climate change cartoon uses Hokusai’s Great Wave to illustrate the effects of global warming – particularly the effects on the change in the sea level and the weather

The Great Wave by Hokusai is frequently appropriated by cartoonists, often to represent disasters.
In this cartoon Hokusai’s wave shows the ultimate effects of global warming. The gradual, almost unnoticed, increase in the effects of climate change slowly accumulate, with ultimate devastating effect. The effects are only taken seriously too late, by which time the effects cause environmental disaster (not necessarily only flooding or tsunamis, which here are actually metaphors for wider consequences)

Cartoon reference number: env079
Climate change cartoons. Flood cartoon – global warming causing flooding

Climate change cartoons
Flooding cartoon

Climate change may cause serious floods. The cartoon shows an official from a government environment agency procrastinating over doing anything about it, with the words “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it”. When the inevitable flood actually arrives the bridge is uncrossable due to the flood

An environmental cartoon about procrastination, short-termism, planning, contingency plans

Drawn: 1991

Cartoon reference number: env076
Climate change cartoons – carbon footprint

Environment cartoons.
Carbon footprint cartoon

The US delegate at a climate change conference, Uncle Sam, wearing huge clown shoes, saying ‘No one will take me seriously in these shoes’

A cartoon about international conferences on environmental issues, and about the fact that (at the moment) the west uses most of the world’s resources and thus can’t really dictate to the developing world

Cartoon reference number: env001
Environmental cartoons – carbon footprint cartoon

Environment cartoon
Carbon footprint represented as carbon tyre tracks
Ecology cartoon about carbon footprints

A cartoon about, among other environmental issues, desertification, environmental degradation, sustainability

Cartoon showing the footprints of the western world represented as tyre tracks. The vehicle that’s created them has knocked over a person from the developing world, who’s carbon footprints are relatively insignificant

Cartoon reference number: env121
Global warming cartoons: climate change denial

A climate change cartoon from my selection of environment cartoons

In denial over global warming

A cartoon depicting a person who is burying his head in the sand over climate change and global warming. The sand is the result of the advancing or spreading desert or desertification.

Cartoon reference number: env008
Environmental cartoons. Carbon footprints going over a cliff like lemmings – cartoon

Environmental cartoons
Cartoon of carbon footprints going over a cliff

An environment illustration showing the human race’s lemming like tendency
Note: lemmings don’t actually do this – it’s a myth

A cartoon about environmental suicide, approaching the ecological abyss, reaching the precipice

Cartoon reference: env009
Illustration. Carbon footprints of the west and the developing world compared

Environment illustration
Carbon footprint cartoon

The carbon footprint of the west compared to the carbon footprint of the developing world. The west’s is much bigger.

The carbon footprint of the developed world is shown as a huge boot print, while the carbon foot print of the developing world is shown as a tiny foot print (a bare footprint in fact). This is to illustrate the fact that the west has a much larger impact on carbon levels than the developing world.

Cartoon reference number: env002
Aviation cartoon – air transport’s impact on the environment

Air travel’s environmental impact cartoon or illustration
Climate change and aviation cartoon

Cartoon about the impact of aviation on the environment
A single transatlantic flight contributes as much to global warming as a typical year of driving a car

A cartoon about aircraft, climate change, con trails, air miles, carbon footprints

Cartoon reference number: env045
Climate change cartoons. Fossil fuel use causes flooding

Environmental cartoons
Anthropogenic climate change cartoon or global warming cartoon

Cartoon illustrating the consequences of the fact that fossil fuel use may be responsible for flooding.
The cartoon shows a car stranded in a flood

A cartoon about sustainability, the environment, floods, transport

Cartoon drawn: 2011

Cartoon reference number: env077
Global warming cartoon – a man and a penguin worrying about the shrinking ice caps

Environmental cartoons
Global warming cartoon

A man and a penguin on a shrinking ice flow, worrying about the shrinking polar ice caps
The man is thinking “We’re on thin ice here!”

A cartoon about shrinking ice caps, penguins, climate change, icebergs, environmental impact, rising sea levels

Drawn: 1991

Cartoon reference number: env010
Environment cartoons: China’s carbon footprint cartoon

A cartoon from my selection of environmental cartoons
Carbon footprint cartoon
China’s carbon footprint cartoon

Editorial cartoon or illustration on the reason why China has a large carbon footprint – because it manufactures goods for the west

A cartoon about manufacturing in China, imports, experts, trade, pollution, consumerism, the consumer society, manufacturing, carbon credits

Cartoon reference number: env065
Environmental cartoon: a possible problem with progress

Environmental cartoon

A possible problem with progress – cartoon

The human race ignoring the warning signs and recklessly carrying on and thus driving itself over the precipice and into the abyss – even though the warning signs are plain to see

Cartoon reference number: env051
Desertification cartoon – desertification as a result of global warming

An environmental cartoon about desertification
An advancing desert as a result of climate change

A cartoon showing a building that housed a campaign against global warming, with the building now being overtaken by a desert, showing the advancing desert and the failure of the campaign

Cartoon reference number: env012
Environment cartoons: climate change denial cartoon

Environment cartoons
Climate change denial cartoon

A cartoon about global warming statistics and their use in denying the existence of anthropogenic climate change

Parts of the media, and some scientists, insist that climate change isn’t happening, despite the evidence (depicted as desert at the North Pole)

Cartoon reference number: env003
Global warming cartoons: the rising climate of climate change denial

Global warming cartoon
The rising climate of climate change denial

A cartoon about the increase in scepticism about the existence of climate change

Cartoon reference number: env0812