Halloween Ideas for a Warming Planet

Pretty or scary or brave? There’s a climate costume to suit all tastes and all ages.

Children will be roaming the streets tonight dressed as Superheroes, Princesses, and Evil Villains. But really, these invented figures can’t hold a candle to the real ones in our world. Continuing a longstanding tradition — three years in a row! — here are some possibilities for this year:

The Villains

Cruela de Coal. This is an easy make-over of the Disney costume. Just coat the costume with soot.

The Climate Troll. Demented muttering is the key to this character. Start with “it’s a Chinese hoax,” then “they’re coming for your gas stove!.” Use your imagination after that and shriek “Alarmist!” now and then for emphasis. A variation is the Climate Bot – wear a robot suit and repeat the same lines in a monotone.

The Mad, Mad Methane Monster. This monster can cook your planet in virtually no time. Talk about a supervillain!

Zombie Wells. These inactive oil and gas wells are an ominous source of invisible pollution. Standard Zombie costume. Just add a cap with an oil company logo.

The Victims

The Endangered Mermaid. Like many ocean creatures, the Little Mermaid is now threatened by rising temperatures and ocean acidification. Wear a Little Mermaid costume but carry an icepack for the fever, a thermometer, and a big bottle of antacid.

Ghost Corals Bleached white and dead, is the look you’re going for here.

UNFROZEN. Dress like a giant ice cube, attach water-drop shapes, and drip water from a concealed container while trilling “drip. . .drip . . .drip.”

The Heroes

Buzz Windmill. Another costume conversion – take a Buzz Lightyear costume and glue cardboard turbine blades to the back.

Captain Renewable. Captain Renewable can take a shaft of sunlight or a summer breeze and turn them into electricity to zap enemies. What could be cooler?