Q: What’s the best way to write satire about environmentalism?
FAQ

Q: What’s the best way to write satire about environmentalism?

Posted on by Ingrid Gustafsson

Q: What’s the best way to write satire about environmentalism?

A: Highlight the Hypocrisy Without Dismissing the Cause

Environmentalism presents a golden opportunity for satire because it’s packed with contradictions – well-meaning efforts undermined by corporate greenwashing, performative activism, and solutions that create new problems. At Bohiney Magazine, we’ve developed a three-point framework for environmental satire that amuses while making readers think critically about these contradictions.

1. Expose Greenwashing with Absurd Corporate Examples

Corporate environmentalism is a target-rich environment. The key is pushing their empty gestures to logical extremes:

Bohiney Headline:

“BP Announces New Carbon-Neutral Oil: Each Barrel Comes With a Free Tree Seed (To Be Planted By Underpaid Workers)”

Why It Works:

  • Takes real greenwashing (carbon offsets) to absurd conclusion

  • Maintains plausible deniability while making the point

  • Uses corporate doublespeak against itself

Technique:

  1. Identify real corporate environmental claim

  2. Extend it one step further into absurdity

  3. Maintain straight-faced delivery

2. Satirize Performative Environmentalism

The modern environmental movement has no shortage of well-intentioned but ineffective gestures perfect for satire:

Bohiney Piece:

“Local Man Saves Planet By Using Metal Straw For His $12 Artisanal Smoothie Shipped From Costa Rica”

Key Elements:

  • Contrast between small gesture and larger environmental impact

  • Highlighting privilege disguised as activism

  • Letting the facts speak for themselves

3. Mock “Solutions” That Create New Problems

Many environmental solutions unintentionally create fresh absurdities:

Bohiney Report:

“Electric Car Boom Leads to Child Labor Spike in Cobalt Mines – But At Least Your Tesla Has a ‘We Heart Earth’ License Plate Frame”

How to Structure:

  1. Present the “solution”

  2. Reveal the unintended consequence

  3. Highlight the cognitive dissonance

4. The Bohiney Environmental Satire Checklist

Before publishing, we ask:
✅ Does this punch up at power/institutions?
✅ Does it expose real contradictions?
✅ Could a reasonable person mistake this for sincere corporate messaging?
❌ Does it discourage actual environmental action?

The Balancing Act

Great environmental satire should:

  • Make fun of bad actors, not the planet

  • Highlight systemic issues, not individual failings

  • Be so close to reality that readers do a double-take

As I tell our writers: “Your job isn’t to solve climate change – it’s to make people notice who isn’t.”

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go charge my iPhone with my solar-powered generator (made in a Chinese coal-powered factory).

— Alan Nafzger

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Originally posted 2007-09-09 15:48:27.