Let the Earth Warm Up at Most 1.5℃: The Application of Information Visualization Design in Climate Change Communication

Abstract: This project focuses on the issue of global climate change and implements an information visualization exhibition themed “Let the Earth Warm Up at Most 1.5℃ ”. By integrating information visualization, spatial display, and scientific communication, it intuitively presents global warming trends driven by greenhouse gas emissions and their multifaceted ecological impacts. Based on the HadCRUT global surface air temperature dataset (1860– 2020)(Met Office Hadley Centre and Climatic Research Unit, 2023), the exhibition visualizes global temperature changes since the Industrial Revolution through multidimensional graphics. It highlights several critical ecological tipping points, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, degradation of the Amazon rainforest, decline of Arctic sea ice, and extinction of coral reefs. Through interactive installations, multimedia experiences, and information panels, the exhibition simulates temperature rise scenarios and their ripple effects on biodiversity. Emphasizing “tangibility,” the design incorporates visual, auditory, and tactile dimensions—such as thermochromic materials and temperature rise simulation devices—to create an immersive and emotionally impactful experience. The exhibition further extends its influence through sustainable product design, including eco-friendly tickets, packaging, and cultural products, enhancing audience participation and emotional engagement. The concept of “public participation” is embodied in sustainability education modules and interactive feedback mechanisms, such as the “Future Commitment Card” and the “I Reduce Carbon for the Planet” message wall, guiding audiences from awareness to action. Following a design logic of “scientific facts → visual interpretation → public participation”, this project explores the role of design in environmental communication and climate action, fostering public understanding and emotional resonance, and emphasizing the potential and responsibility of design as a medium for social sustainability.

Keywords: Global Warming, Information Visualization, Eco-Design, Climate Change, Public Participation

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006336

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