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BWEA News
Wednesday 16th November 2005
Defra launches new climate change communications campaign
'Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge'
A new three year drive to communicate the threat of climate change and the need for everyone to tackle the problem was today launched by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett and Climate Change Minister Elliot Morley.
The campaign 'Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge' will unite efforts by Defra, and its key delivery partners - the Carbon Trust, Energy Saving Trust, Environment Agency and UK Climate Impacts Programme - to communicate the issue. The announcement unveils a series of new communication resources that tell the story of climate change and seek to inspire people to get involved in the campaign. Details of how private sector groups, organisations and charities can apply for money from a £6 million fund over three years were also announced.
Mrs Beckett said:
"This communications drive is to accompany the policies which have made the UK a leader in tackling climate change. Climate change has been a key priority for our G8 and EU Presidencies and the UK has taken the subject to the top of the international political agenda.
"This is not about government trying to pass the buck or avoid its responsibilities. It is about how we can encourage everyone to play their part.
"Climate change affects all of us – so all of us need to hold the key to solving this issue. Government, business and NGOs need to work in partnership to engage people from all walks of life to tackle climate change."
Mr Morley said he believed that the new materials and the establishment of the communicators fund would help change people's attitudes.
"We need to show that by working collectively we can make a difference in combating climate change. And we will be looking to launch – in partnership with others - larger, national projects during years two and three of the initiative."
Notes:
Among the other elements launched in the grass-roots campaign today were:
- a two minute film telling the story of climate change, which will be distributed as a filler for television and will also be viewable and downloadable from the website - or click on the image to view now
- radio adverts for commercial stations focusing on the fact that climate change is a here and now issue, downloadable from the website
- a climate change guide, designed to help local authorities, NGO's, the business community and successful fund applicants explain climate change and communicate the main concepts
- a new website portal - www.climatechallenge.gov.uk. This will hold the guide, further information about understanding and communicating climate change, fund criteria, a timeline for applications and case studies
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