WWF highlights underwater warming through thermal technology

Global – During COP29 in Baku, WWF unveiled In Hot Water, a powerful stop-motion film spotlighting the devastating impact of rising ocean temperatures and marine heatwaves on underwater ecosystems. While global warming is often visualised through barren landscapes and extreme weather, this campaign shifts the focus to the often-invisible threats beneath the surface.

Created by London animation studio Nomint, the film employed thermal imaging cameras to deliver a visually arresting narrative. Using a fiery, high-contrast palette symbolising rising temperatures, the production combines art and technology to expose the unseen effects of climate change. Notably, the 3D-animated child featured in the film was 3D-printed and heated to specific levels, allowing thermal cameras to capture precise colours, which were then stitched into stop-motion sequences.

Pepe Clarke, WWF’s oceans practice leader, explains: ‘The film evokes humanity’s connection to the ocean while illustrating the catastrophic effects of climate change that remain invisible to the naked eye.’ In Hot Water showcases how design can be used to evoke urgency around the climate crisis, aligning with our findings in Rebranding Nature and Five Design Responses to the Climate Crisis.