Kelly O’Connell, ERS
Halloween is the time for scary movies, spooky decorations, and horror-inspired costumes. Although many celebrations are going to look a little different this year, we want to share some ideas for costumes that are actually scary and spread climate change awareness simultaneously! What’s better than nonconfrontationally sharing information through a creative costume? Bonus points for creating the costume from reused, second-hand, or recycled components.
- Global Warming – Dress as the planet or Mother Earth, then accessorize to your heart’s content! Carry a thermometer, sunglasses, or a fan and complain about how “it’s getting hot in here.”
- Wildfire – While they may no longer be making front-page headlines, the wildfires in the western US continue to burn, and they have already destroyed an unprecedented amount of land this year. Scare your friends with a red and orange outfit bedecked with some cardboard “flames.”
- Pacific Garbage Patch – Let’s not forget about the nearly 2 trillion pieces of plastic that have come together in the Pacific Ocean to form a mass larger than the state of Texas. A blue outfit with some cardboard waves and lots of plastic pinned to you is a simple-to-execute yet effective costume.
- Greta Thunberg – Celebrities and pop culture icons are common costume material, but what about activists? Greta Thunberg, a young Swedish activist, is currently leading the school strike on climate change and has an important message to spread. Her classic braids, a grim look, and a protest sign would be the start of a great costume helping to spread her passionate pleas, and arguably our collective cause, to start taking actions to adjust our carbon emissions.
- The Lorax – Be the voice that “speaks for the trees” in a full orange outfit and giant yellow mustache. This classic Dr. Seuss character shares great environmental and conservation tips, all in rhyme!