Why Writing Eco-Fiction Will Help Create a Sustainable World
Nina Munteanu
November 1, 2026 - 15
---------------
The Sustainability Thread is a thematic series of articles, curated by Canadian SF author Nina Munteanu and sponsored by Reality Skimming Press. Pieces in the series appear twice a month Query Nina Munteanu about appearing on the thread at nina.sfgirl@gmail.com
---------------
“What you think, you become”—Buddha
Humans’ capacity and need to tell stories is as old as our ancient beginnings. From the
Palaeolithic cave paintings of Lascaux to our blogs on the Internet, humanity has left a legacy of
“story” sharing. Evolutionary biologist and futurist Elisabet Sahtouris tells us that, “whether we
create our stories from the revelations of religions or the researches of science, or the
inspirations of great artists and writers or the experiences of our own lives, we live by the
stories we believe and tell to ourselves and others.”
Ultimately, we live by the narratives we share.
Compelling stories resonate with the universal truths of metaphor that reside within the
consciousness of humanity. According to Joseph Campbell, this involves an open mind and a
certain amount of humility; and giving oneself to the story … not unlike the hero who gives her
life to something larger than herself. Fiction becomes memorable by providing layers of
meaning. Stories move with direction, compel with intrigue and fulfil with awareness and,
sometimes, with understanding. The stories that stir our hearts come from deep inside, where
the personal meets the universal, through symbols, archetypes and metaphor.
Environment as Character
Place and environment in story is often neglected or overlooked—particularly by novice
writers; yet, place can powerfully direct a story. I devoted an entire writing guidebook to place
and environment, The Ecology of Story: World as Character. In it, I argue that when a writer is
mindful of place in story and not only accurately portrays environment but treats it as a
character, then that story will resonate with multilayers of meaning.
All great literature distills its art form through the exploration of relationship: our relationship
with technology, with science, Nature, God, our children, each other, our history. Eco-fiction
can illuminate our history and our very humanity by examining our interaction with our
environment—often portrayed as “the other”—the unfamiliar, the feared, the often
downtrodden, the invisible, the ignored. This is the hero’s journey. And it is through this
journey relating to the “other” that our hero discovers herself and her gift to the world.
Eco-Fiction and Climate Fiction Point To Sustainable Living
We currently live in a world in which climate change and associated water crisis pose a very real
existential threat to most life currently on the planet. The new normal is change. And it is within
this changing world that eco-fiction is realizing itself as a literary pursuit worth engaging in. The
emergence of the term eco-fiction as a brand of literature suggests that we are all
awakening—novelists and readers of novels—to our changing environment. We are finally
ready to see and portray environment as a character with agency and to read this important
and impactful literature.
Many readers now seek fiction that describes environmental issues but also explores a
successful paradigm shift: fiction that accurately addresses our current issues with intelligence
and hope. Fiction that directs us toward a more sustainable life. This is reflected in the growing
popularity of several emerging sub-genres of fiction such as solar punk, optimistic climate
fiction, clifi, eco-lit, hope punk, and others. The power of envisioning a certain future is that the
vision enables one to see it as possible—and even to make it possible. This literature is
particularly exciting because: 1) it is relevant to our current existential situation; and 2) it often
provides a way forward.
How Eco-Fiction Inspires and Galvanizes
Eco-Fiction (short for ecological fiction) is a kind of fiction in which the environment—or one
aspect of the environment—plays a major role, either as premise or as character. “Principled by
real science and exalting our planet’s beauty, these stories are works of art. They live within
classic modes of fiction exploring the human condition, but also integrate the wild,” writes
Canadian eco-fiction author and scholar Mary Woodbury. At the heart of eco-fiction are strong
relationships forged between the major character on a journey and an aspect of their
environment and place. Environment and place can illuminate through the sub-text of
metaphor a core aspect of the main character and their journey.
Woodbury tells us that: “Fiction exploring humanity’s impacts on nature is becoming more
popular [and] has the distinct ability to creatively engage and appeal to readers’ emotions. In
fact, it can stir environmental action.” A survey she took in 2020 showed that 88% of the
participants were inspired to act after reading ecological fiction.
To Mary Woodbury’s survey question “Do you think that environmental themes in fiction can
impact society and if so, how?” readers responded with these observations:
Environmental fiction encourages empathy and imagination. Stories can affect us more
than dry facts. Fiction reaches us more deeply than academic understanding, moving us
to action.
Environmental fiction triggers a sense of wonder about the natural
world, and even a sense of loss and mourning. Stories can immerse
readers into imagined worlds with environmental issues similar to ours.
Environmental fiction raises awareness, encourages conversations
and idea-sharing. Fiction is one way that helps to create a vision of
our future. Cautionary tales can nudge people to action and encourage
alternative futures. Novels can shift viewpoints without direct confrontation,
avoid cognitive dissonance, and invite reframed human-nature
relationships through enjoyment and voluntary participation.
Environmental themes can reorient our perspective from egocentrism
to the greater-than-human world.. Eco-fiction as an overarching genre
spans from science fiction and even fantasy to speculative fiction and
literary fiction. Eco-fiction can emotionalize, inspire, and mobilize readers
toward sustainable action. Notable authors who have embraced this genre
include: Margaret Atwood; Richard Powers; Barbara Kingsolver; Paulo Bacigalupi;
Kim Stanley Robinson; Octavia Butler; Annie Proulx; Thomas Wharton,
Charlotte McConaghy; Michael Christie, Emmi Itäranta; and
Ursula LeGuin—just to mention a few.
For a robust list of worthwhile eco-fiction you can consult my list of Thirty Impactful Eco-Fiction
Books.
---------------
References:
Campbell, Joseph, Bill Moyers. 1991. “The Power of Myth.” Anchor. 293pp.
Munteanu, Nina. 2016. “Water Is… The Meaning of Water.” Pixl Press, Delta, B.C. 584pp.
Munteanu, Nina. 2019. “The Ecology of Story: World as Character.” Pixl Press, Delta, B.C.
200pp.
Sahtouris, Elisabet. 2014. “Ecosophy: Nature’s Guide to a Better World.” Kosmos,
Spring/Summer 2014: 4-9pp.
Woodbury, Mary. “What is Eco-fiction?” Dragonfly.eco. 2016. https://dragonfly.eco/eco-
fiction/ Accessed September 15, 2022.
---------------
Nina Munteanu is an Canadian ecologist, author, editor and writing coach, notably but not exclusively in the realm of Speculative Fiction (SF/F). In addition to nine published novels, Munteanu has written short stories, articles and non-fiction books, which have been translated into several languages throughout the world. Munteanu is a member of SF Canada.
Nina Munteanu on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninamunteanu/
Nina Munteanu Writing Coach. https://ninamunteanu.me/
Nina Munteanu (Wikipedia). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Munteanu
---------------
Image Credits
Munteanu, N. , No date given
Comments