Introducing
the Criss Tool
The CRISS Tool helps you create stories that explore the climate and sustainability. You can use the tool for as long as it is needed and throughout the story development process.
Dive into each section and explore the prompts and questions designed to help you reflect on and improve your story’s approach to climate and sustainability issues.
How to guide
Using the criss tool
The CRISS Tool has six topics to help storytellers engage with climate change and sustainability. Within each topic, you’ll find questions thoughtfully crafted to inspire reflection, ignite meaningful discussions, and deepen storyteller understanding.
Utilise these insights to guide your decision-making, identify new tasks, and pose further questions.
Critical Activity
Critical Content
- How does the story describe the sustainability/climate issue(s)?
- How will the story offer explanation for, or evaluation of, the issue?
- How does the story explore connections between different sustainability/climate issues?
- How does the story make connections between different contexts (e.g., specific places, local and global scales)?
- Does the story explore strategies or actions for tackling the sustainability/ climate issue?
Audience
Target Audience
- Who is the target audience(s) for the story?
Behaviour change
- Does the story include prompts to change audience behaviour?
- What types of behaviour change does the story target (e.g., collective, or individual)?
- How might audience behaviour change be measured/assessed?
Language
- How can language in the story be used to inform the audience?
Script
- How will you balance emotion and factual information for the audience through the script?
Storytelling Journey
Reflection
- How is critical thinking, and learning and reflection encouraged during production of the story?
Advisory groups
- How might advisory groups help to develop the story?
Experts by experience
- How might experts by experience (i.e., communities, industry experts, academic researchers) advance the content of your story?
- Are you speaking to stakeholders with knowledge of the issue??
Technology
- Is the technology used in the production of the story helping or hindering critical communication to the audience?
Context
Location
- How does the location at which the sustainability/ climate issue occurs shape the story?
- How does the scale (local, national, regional, global) at which the issue occurs impact the story?
Representation
- Are diverse and contrasting stakeholder experiences shared in the story?
- How does the story explore diverse communities impacted by sustainability/ climate issues?
Relationships and impact
- How does the story examine the relationships and connections between places?
Time
- How does the timeframe (past/present/ future) shape the story?
Quality of Information
Evidence
- Is the information in the story evidence-based?
Knowledge categories
- What categories of information are included in the story (e.g., historical, economic, social, political, legal, environmental, social justice)?
- How will you use the information available to you to accurately represent the sustainability/ climate issue?
Accuracy
- Is all data reliable, verifiable, and representative of reality?
Transparency
- Are you able to be transparent with the audience about information sources?
Trust
- How will you generate trust in the story amongst the audience?
Justice
Ethics
- Has information for the story been collected in an ethical manner?
Justice
- How does your story explore social justice for communities affected by sustainability/climate issues?
- How does your story explore environmental justice? ?
Responsibility
- How will the story explore who is responsible for the sustainability or climate issue (e.g., individuals, organisations, governments, systems of activity and interaction)?
Adaptation and mitigation
- How does the story consider adaptations or mitigation measures (e.g., social, economic, or environmental) associated with aspects of sustainability and climate change?
faqs
Learn more about how we can support your work.
What is Criss?
Critical Sustainability Stories (CRISS) is a unique educational tool that uses open ended questions to help storytellers integrate climate and sustainability issues into their narratives. The research informed questions prompt users to think critically about climate and sustainability challenges as they create impactful and informed stories.
What does it do?
CRISS facilitates the creation of stories that accurately reflect the complexities of climate, sustainability and social justice challenges. It supports storytellers in critically examining their content, audiences, the context of their stories, social justice implications and the quality of information they present, ensuring that their stories are engaging, educational, and rooted in evidence-based research.
Why does it matter?
In a world increasingly affected by climate change, effective communication is crucial. CRISS empowers creators to craft stories that not only entertain but also educate and inspire action. By promoting thoughtful and accurate storytelling, CRISS helps raise awareness, foster understanding, and drive social change, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to address social, environmental and sustainability issues through their work.
Can only major productions use CRISS?
No, CRISS is designed to be accessible for storytellers at all levels. Whether you are an independent creator, a small community group, or a major production company, CRISS can support your efforts to include accurate and impactful climate narratives in your work.
Who is behind CRISS?
CRISS was developed by Dr Alexandra Dales, Dr Rory Padfield, and Dr Gemma Bridge – with input from a range of creatives and sustainability experts. The CRISS team are experienced communicators and academics, passionate about helping others create stories that drive social change and raise awareness about climate issues.
Try the criss tool
Answer the questions online and submit to receive a digital copy to download and keep. All submissions are confidential and only used to improve the CRISS Tool.
Book a workshop
Access 1-to-1 expertise and training with the CRISS Tool Team
Downloads
Resources
Craft your story with more of our climate and sustainability resources.
Critical Thinking Guide
Understand what it means to be critical and gain key critical thinking skills.
A-Z of key terms
This brief guide features definitions of words and phrases used in the CriSS Tool.
Trustworthy Information Guide
Learn how to find information and assess its reliability.
Other Key Resources
A list of climate change, sustainability and social justice resources.
CRISS Tool Guidance
Learn how to use the CRISS tool to enhance your storytelling