Stories of Collective Climate Action
Concept
Needlab has designed an art installation highlighting powerful stories of community-driven climate action from young leaders around the world.
Needlab created these lamps in their honor — part of the broader “Echoes of Fight & Light” series — using unfired paper clay made from recycled paper, including shredded legal documents from environmental justice cases fought by Earthjustice. This process transforms the remnants of advocacy — once words on paper fighting for environmental protection — into luminous vessels of hope.
Through storytelling, art, and dialogue, this art installation will show that together, we are stronger — and that hope, when acted upon collectively, leads to real climate impact.
Symbolism & Process
Each of the featured leaders has selected an animal that symbolizes their journey and community action, rendered as motifs on the lamps.
Each lamp is more than a lighting fixture — it is an illuminating monument to perseverance, resilience, and renewal. By reimagining litigation documents as sources of gentle light, the project honors the fight for collective climate justice while offering a tangible symbol of hope.
In moments when hope feels scarce, these lights represent sparks of collective possibility — reminders that even in darkness, advocacy, care, and collective action for climate change can shine through.
Objectives
Inspire audiences by sharing real, tangible examples of collective climate action from diverse regions.
Demonstrate the power of art as a medium for climate storytelling and justice.
Foster connections among climate leaders, partners, and attendees to spark future collaborations.
Amplify hope as a strategic tool for mobilizing action at scale.
Follow the light — “Echoes of Fight & Light” will be glowing in unexpected corners of NYC during UNGA 80 and Climate Week 2025. Come wander, discover, and be inspired.
We thank Earthjustice for their remarkable work and for serving as both sponsor and partner, supporting us from ideation to the realization of this project.
Copyright Acknowledgement: All artworks, images, and fabrication processes are original creations by Needlab and artist Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes. © Needlab. All rights reserved. Images and content are the intellectual property of Needlab and Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without prior written permission.