The Heat is On: Young Writers on the Climate Crisis in print

By Ōtepoti He Puna Auaha | Dunedin UNESCO City Of Literature | Posted: Friday Feb 21, 2025

To celebrate International Mother Language Day (21 February), we are thrilled to announce the print publication of The Heat is On: Young Writers on the Climate Crisis

To celebrate this special day, we have a few to give away! If you would like your own free copy of this beautiful publication, please email CityofLiterature@dcc.govt.nz before midnight tonight.

Originally published online, this dynamic and thought-provoking volume is a creative response to the climate crisis facing our planet by extraordinary young writers under 20 from Cities of Literature around the world.

Each powerful story and poem is written in the writers’ first language and then translated into English, and therefore resonates deeply with their communities.

Every language is a vessel of both tradition and innovation, and language is at the heart of The Heat is On – not only in the celebration of cultural diversity, but in the global dialogue needed to tackle pressing issues like the climate emergency facing us all.

These remarkable pieces and dazzling artworks will stay with you always.

Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua -

As the people disappear from sight, the land remains