Climate change presents a systemic and complex challenge that requires educational approaches fostering not only scientific understanding but also imagination, critical reflection, and interdisciplinary collaboration. While climate education often prioritizes factual knowledge, limited research examines the role of creative, narrative-driven methods in strengthening climate literacy and supporting behavioral change. This study applies the 2CG® multi-method framework, grounded in systemic-constructivist thinking and communities of practice, to three case studies with Austrian vocational students (ages 16–19) from IT, media technology, and data science programs. The workshops combined climate data analysis, speculative storytelling, and artistic practices – including multimedia production and creative writing – supported by expert input from scientists, artists, and philosophers. A behavioral scan (Telluz) partly informed the workshop design by identifying local perceptions, attitudes, and proposed solutions related to climate and wellbeing challenges. Creative prompts and activities engaged students in identifying climate issues in their surroundings, and exploring climate literacy through non-human as well as literate and illiterate human perspectives. The performative exercises enabled critical reflection on knowledge gaps, communication barriers, and ethical aspects in the climate discourse. AI tools were integrated throughout the workshops as collaborative partners supporting idea generation, writing, and production. Findings indicate that the combination of artistic methods, real data, and collaborative learning enhanced students’ climate awareness, critical thinking, and imaginative engagement. Students reported increased readiness to change behavior but also identified persistent structural barriers, such as limited infrastructure, habitual patterns, and lack of incentives. The study concludes that integrating art-inspired transformative approaches as hyper-curricular elements within vocational programs can strengthen climate action competencies and support the development of long-term climate-conscious mindsets.