What Can Visualization Research Do for Climate? A Workshop Report

Earth, our home planet, is changing at an unprecedented rate due to human industrial activity. Data visualization can uniquely illuminate these complex transformations by revealing hidden patterns, thereby translating abstract data into compelling narratives and increased understanding. How can we harness visualization’s full potential to inform and inspire our generation toward environmental awareness and stewardship? This article reports on insights and key challenges from the 2024 IEEE VIS workshop on climate action and sustainability whose submissions paint a rich picture of the current, yet still nascent, landscape of how the field of visualization can help empower people to take meaningful steps toward environmental stewardship. Drawing from the presented works and the collective workshop discussions, we propose future research directions and invite the visualization community, both researchers and practitioners, to join this vital effort in addressing one of our planet’s greatest challenges.