Worldcon is currently taking place in Scotland – and the climate crisis is a hot topic at the popular science fiction convention.

The post-apocalyptic Earth is a staple of science fiction, with real-world warnings of dire climate change. “catastrophic for civilization” unless urgent action is taken.

The World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) – which takes place until Monday at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow – has the crisis at the centre of the dense programme with numerous discussion rounds on the emergency.

Author Su J Sokol told Sky News it was a “very important issue”.

Sokol – whose pronouns are xe/xyr – said: “At this point, people have written climate Fiction for a very long time.

“One of the wonderful things about this genre is that it can help people think about things they need to think about.

“I mean, in science fiction you also read about pandemics a long, long time ago and also the possibility of nuclear war.

“All of these things are devastating, so this is a good way to raise alarm bells.”

Sokol will moderate the panel “The Spectrum of Climate Fiction” on Friday evening.

Xe said even those who don’t write climate fiction would have difficulty writing science fiction about the near future without referencing the environmental crisis.

Sokol explained: “You can’t write fiction about the near future without trying to imagine what things will be like in terms of climate, because that is reality.”

“So if you write your fiction and it’s not in there, it won’t seem realistic.

“It pretty much has to be in your story, unless you’re writing a story set in the far future and a big change has taken things in a different direction. But they have to explain what happened.”

The panel plans to discuss different approaches to imagining and managing future worlds with higher temperatures, water scarcity, rising sea levels, crop failures and the movement of climate refugees.

Sokol said: “It is undeniable that the world is changing in terms of climate.

“I mean, even in the 20 years I’ve lived in Montreal, the climate has changed dramatically. And that’s scary.”

“It’s frightening to see this and hear about all the extinction and think about the floods and fires. But there are different approaches to writing about these worlds.

“There’s the approach that says, ‘Okay, I’m going to write a story that scares people and makes them pay attention.’ Or ‘I’m going to write a story that talks about possible technological solutions or lifestyle changes or political solutions.’

“Or, ‘I’m going to write a story about how we’re going to try to cope in this worse situation.'”

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Sokol is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Montreal, Canada about 20 years ago.

Xe has written three novels – Cycling to Asylum, Run J Run and Zee – and has a penchant for “hope-punk,” a subgenre of speculative fiction in which characters fight for positive change, radical kindness and community responses to challenges.

Sokol has a legal background but started writing about 12 years ago and has never looked back.

Xe said: “I love reading stories that are not about the world as it is, but about the world as it could be.

“As I am also an activist, it is very important to me to bring about positive social change.

“Science fiction, fantasy and all genres of speculative fiction can help us imagine a better world. Because if you can’t imagine one, you certainly can’t build one.”

Sokol has participated in numerous Worldcons, including in Dublin, Chicago, Washington DC and Helsinki.

Xe said it was “really, really fun” to be part of a community of people who share the same interests, as well as having the opportunity to participate in panels that discuss a wide range of topics.

Sokol said: “I just love being on panels and meeting other people.

“Sometimes you meet writers you really admire, or other people who feel the same way about this kind of writing as you do.”

Sokol is convinced that science fiction in most cases also has a political or social aspect and that authors should not be discouraged by this.

Xe added: “So what are you going to do? How are you going to tell a good story?

“Will people leave with a sense of despair? Will they leave with a sense that something can be done?

“Are people being shaken out of their complacency or not? These are things to think about.”

“Your words will have an impact and you should be aware of it and think about what that impact is.”

Worldcon began in New York in 1939 and has traveled all over the world since then.

Glasgow 2024 is the eighth Worldcon to be held in the United Kingdom and the third in the Scottish city after 1995 and 2005.

This year’s program includes lectures, workshops, readings, panel discussions and entertainment.

Ceilidhs, fan tables and parties, an art exhibition, a fancy dress masked ball, special exhibitions and guided tours were also organised, along with a variety of other activities.

Since arriving in ScotlandSokol visited Edinburgh and traveled to Skye.

Speaking of Glasgowxe said: “I really love the atmosphere of the city.”