UN Forum on the Communication of Climate Change at COP16

Posted on 5 December 2010

While Sonja Kruse, <a href=”http://www.letterdash.com/skruse” target=”_blank”>the Ubuntu Girl</a>, spent time on the road with us last week, she received an invitation to speak at the United Nations Climate Change Conference… more specifically, The Forum on the Communication of Climate Change.

Her topic: “The use & impact of social media and other channels and technologies in influencing public opinion”

We chatted extensively about the scope, the opportunities and obviously the amazing opportunity. And then, she mailed the organisers back and asked if they’d mind someone else joining her… someone who could help spread the word even further. And, well, they agreed and I am now heading to Cancun, Mexico, with Sonja! Happy? OH YES!

“As President Calderón has recently stated, climate change is an undeniable threat to all countries, especially the poorest ones. Natural disasters associated with global warming are hitting countries such as Mexico more often. The financial burden involved in our efforts against these phenomena is already immense, and will likely increase as the problem goes unsolved.

The aim of this Forum is to bring together specialists and practitioners in public diplomacy and communications with policy makers, the media, international organizations, global communications consulting firms, and NGOs. Since public support for policy changes is one of the great challenges of the whole climate project, Mexico’s purpose is to launch a global forum where this challenge is debated, best practice shared, and future actions planned. The Forum will also cover issues such as how civil society gets news and information on climate change, the psychology of climate change perceptions and attitudes, media coverage of climate change negotiations, and public commitment with environmentally sound practices.” reads the formal release.

While obviously stoked that I may bump into Scarlett Johannson [who is said to be attending], there are other personalities like <a href=”http://www.algore.com” target=”_blank”>Al Gore</a> [author of “<a href=”http://www.climatecrisis.net” target=”_blank”>An Inconvenient Truth</a>”], <a href=”http://www.simonanholt.com” target=”_blank”>Simon Anholt</a> [British government advisor specialising in nation branding], Ambassador Patricia Espinosa [Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico] and Arianna Huffington [founder of the <a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com” target=”_blank”>Huffington Post</a>] that add some flavour to the event.

Sonja & I depart from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday 1 December… and will land back in South Africa on Wednesday 8 December. Not quite whistlestop, but close 🙂

So, that’s my news for today… and what an announcement it is! What an opportunity!

I’ll obviously be Tweeting [<a href=”http://www.twitter.com/raychaplin” target=”_blank”>@raychaplin</a>] and updating my website – <a href=”http://www.raychaplin.com” target=”_blank”>www.RayChaplin.com</a> – to keep you updated as we travel.

Some links for you:
Official website: <a href=”http://www.cc2010.mx/en” target=”_blank”>www.cc2010.mx/en</a>
Live video: <a href=”http://www.oneclimate.net/cancun” target=”_blank”>oneclimate.net/cancun</a>

Originally published on <a href=”http://www.raychaplin.com”>www.RayChaplin.com</a>






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