AustLit

'Climate change has been called the most boring subject the science world has ever had to present. Despite media stunts such as nude lie-ins to draw attention to the issue, recent polls show that the urgency of public opinion in relation to climate change has waned. This article argues that popular culture such as genre fiction can be an important communicative device in responding to climate change. It examines how a climate change theme can be developed in fiction and why romance and, in particular, romantic comedy, may be a suitable genre to make this issue relevant to the reader by connecting a global issue to its local effects. Climate change poses particular challenges to an author. My novel-in-progress, Melt (2013), is used as a case study of how these challenges may be met.' (Publication abstract)