Artist's statement: “This piece was painted after the devastation of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The reality of the climate crisis and its impact on those experiencing poverty was visually clear in the reference photo I used. As I painted, I connected even more with the violence and rawness of the losses Puerto Ricans faced. My intention in painting is to stir up the empathy in others. This woman's vibrant clothes and home seem to defy the hopelessness of her stance and circumstance. I don't want her to feel alone in this crisis.” Credit: Mia Merlin, Art x Climate, Maria, (2017, oil on paper) This art may only be reproduced or re-used in connection with the Fifth National Climate Assessment. Any other use must be negotiated with the author.