Ecocriticism and Climate Fiction in Contemporary Anglophone Literature: Narrative, Ethics, and the Anthropocene

Abstract

Ecocriticism, as a critical framework, interrogates the relationship between literature and the environment, foregrounding ecological concerns and challenging anthropocentric paradigms. In recent decades, the rise of climate fiction (“cli‑fi”) has expanded the scope of ecocritical inquiry, offering imaginative responses to the global climate crisis. This paper examines the intersections of ecocriticism and climate fiction in contemporary Anglophone literature, situating them within broader cultural, political, and ethical discourses. Drawing on novels, essays, and speculative narratives by authors such as Amitav Ghosh, Margaret Atwood, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Barbara Kingsolver, the study highlights how literary texts articulate ecological anxieties, dramatize climate catastrophe, and envision alternative futures. The methodology involves a qualitative review of primary texts alongside secondary scholarship, synthesizing theoretical perspectives from environmental humanities, postcolonial studies, and narrative theory. The discussion emphasizes three thematic strands: (1) the representation of climate change as lived experience, (2) the role of narrative form in shaping ecological consciousness, and (3) the ethical imperative of literature in the Anthropocene. Ultimately, the paper argues that contemporary Anglophone climate fiction not only reflects environmental crises but also functions as a catalyst for ecological awareness and activism. By bridging ecocriticism and cli‑fi, literature becomes a vital site for reimagining human‑nature relations and fostering sustainable futures.