This study investigates the rise of climate fiction (cli-fi) as a powerful literary response to the global climate crisis, with a focus on contemporary American literature. In the face of escalating environmental degradation and mounting climate anxiety, cli-fi has emerged as a distinct narrative form that not only reflects societal fears but also reimagines human relationships with nature. Through the analysis of selected 21st-century American novels and short stories, this research explores how authors employ speculative realism, dystopian futures, fragmented temporalities, and ecological symbolism to articulate the psychological, ethical, and existential dimensions of climate change. Drawing on ecocriticism, narrative theory, and affect studies, the study reveals how cli-fi destabilizes anthropocentric narratives, challenges neoliberal ideologies of progress, and offers alternative imaginaries rooted in environmental justice and interspecies solidarity. By foregrounding the affective and cognitive impact of environmental storytelling, the research positions cli-fi as both a cultural barometer and an agent of awareness—inviting readers to confront ecological precarity and to envision sustainable futures. Ultimately, this study argues that climate fiction plays a vital role in shaping public discourse, deepening environmental empathy, and fostering critical engagement with the planetary crisis.
Hashmi et al. (2025) studied this question.