Charter

Uniting Artists and Scientists for Climate Action (UASCA)

1. Purpose

Uniting Artists and Scientists for Climate Action (USACA) serves to unite visual and performing artists, scientists, educators, and affiliated organizations to enable individuals and communities to understand, prepare and mitigate the effects of climate change, to protect their health and the environments on which they depend. Like fractal growth in nature, USACA is designed to foster interconnectedness and agility across networks of organizations and individuals. This includes vertical and horizontal integration at local, regional and national scales. Guided by principles of kinship, reciprocity, and stewardship — including philosophies rooted in Indigenous traditions —we bring art and science together to expand public understanding of climate change and inspire collective action. USACA supports the United Nations global indicator framework for Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 13: taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. This includes strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters (13.1). It also includes improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigations, adaptation, impact reductions and early warning (13.3).  

Integrating the arts and sciences to address climate change at the local, regional, national and international levels deepens understanding, inspires action, and builds equitable, sustainable futures. The cross pollination of these disciplines enables science to resonate more effectively with individuals and communities through the arts (Chappell & Muglia, 2023). Marcia McNutt (N.D.) from the National Academy of Science indicates, “Engaging the public through art and the humanities is a powerful way to foster appreciation for the impact of science and critical and innovative thinking.”   Finally, this multi-disciplinary, multi-scale network provides a unique strategic medium, amplifying the communication on climate change and needed change to protect individuals and communities.

In addition to understanding climate change and its effects on the environment, our focus is also on its human health and economic impacts. Numerous studies have been undertaken linking public health impacts to climate change. A comprehensive study by Romanello et al (2025) has illustrated the extent to which climate change is claiming lives and impacting public health in the US and worldwide. Their recommended actions include “Adopting evidence-based communications frameworks that inspire action and spotlight pathways to a healthy future.” For communities effected by extreme weather, drinking water quality and quantity are especially at risk. (Campbell-Ferrari, 2024). These events not only damage the infrastructure but present health risks to the communities, both short- and long-term, due to contaminants in the water (Pennino et al, 2022).

For economic impacts, extreme weather events and associated climate-related risks have had far reaching impacts, from damage to infrastructure to significant impacts on housing affordability (Water, E., 2024). Additionally, Costa and Hooley (2025) examined effects of extreme weather events on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in over 30 countries. They found severe weather events decreasing GDP by 2.2% with losses persisting after five years at 1.7 %. Additionally, they found regional or spatial spillover effects within 100 km from an event showing a decline in GDP of 0.5%. Wealthier populations and those that are more mobile were more resilient. In a related study, examining data from nearly 20 million mobile phone users in Miami-Dade County, FL during Hurricane Irma, Yabe and Ukkusuri (2020) found that those with greater economic means were more likely to evacuate impacted areas to safer locations and had less damage to housing and infrastructure than those of lower economic means. One example of economic impacts of extreme events is in North Carolina. In a review of impacts from Hurricane Helene, recovery in communities can be delayed. In North Carolina, employment data shows variability dependent upon the industry and region. Leisure and hospitality lost 15.6% of their jobs, areas dependent upon tourism (Church, T., 2025). The impact on housing has been significant with tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed with housing recovery being sluggish (Bailey, 2026). This has led to prolonged displacement of individuals, families and communities with prolonged economic impacts. This example in North Carolina is also indicative of the long road to economic recovery in other communities impacted by extreme events (Carmona et al, 2025)

Ultimately, public health and economic impacts from extreme weather events have short- and long-term effects on public health and economic outcomes, locally and regionally. Communicating accurate and succinct scientific data on these risks to individuals and communities through the arts will assist in preventing, mitigating and recovering from these risks.

Communicating climate change information and impacts toward action will be undertaken in several ways. First, public events will be held bringing together local and national visual and performing artists and scientists, and local educational and non-profit organizations. This is designed to cultivate a strong inter-disciplinary network to sustain actions in addressing climate change, locally and nationally. Second, as the interdisciplinary growth occurs and public events are undertaken, this will help build an online network of visual and performing artists, scientists, educators, and environmental organizations focused on climate change. This will accelerate the ability of individuals and groups in identifying others to collaborate with, ultimately resulting in the needed fractal growth in developing this community, locally and nationally.

2. Principles

a. Organization

• Cultivating a culture of trust to create an environment of openness, and transparency.

•  With a fractal organization, individuals are empowered to express and enact ideas collaboratively.

• Objectivity and integrity are integral to the organization; any conflicts of interest should be identified.

• Decision-making is participatory and inclusive involving relevant stakeholders and draws on the needed expertise in the organization toward innovative and effective decisions.

• Externally, serving others at the local, regional, national and international levels to understand, prepare and mitigate climate change effects to improve their environments and their health.

• Guided by the overarching purpose, espouse an emergent strategy where flexibility is provided in plans to respond to changing circumstances and opportunities.

b. Practice

• Under a servant-leadership model, leadership is distributed across all levels and functions.

• All activities align with the purpose of the organization

• Respect for diverse talents and learning styles,

• Working collaboratively, not competitively

• Encouraging all perspectives to be voiced.

• Equity and inclusion in all programming

• Transparency in decision-making and resource allocation

• Respect for artistic autonomy and scientific integrity

• Respect mutual learning across disciplines and lived experience

3. Membership

USACA welcomes organizations and individual practitioners whose work aligns with our mission. Members may include:

• Visual and performing arts organizations, collectives and individuals

• Environmental and climate-focused individuals and organizations

• Scientific institutions and researchers

• Educators and educational organizations

• Community-based advocacy groups

While the organization is founded with existing members, the fractal growth is designed that we are trustees to enable others to join in continuing its evolution and dynamic development.

Membership levels include:

• Friends/Students - $15 annually. Provide updates on UASCA and free events.

• Member – $35 annually with one complementary entry to a paid event during that year

• Workgroup member – $35 annually with one free paid event project entry during that year. Collaborating on project integrating science and the arts. Receive informational packet, video, support in undertaking project and publicity, locally and nationally.

• Supporters – $50 and above annually (benefits above plus extra special thanks)

• Lifetime - $150. One payment for lifetime membership

Membership in UASCA also serves as a membership in Artists for Climate Awareness.