Public Relations and Your Climate Change Policy
Climate change is a constant news item, and one that cannot be easily ignored. Whilst dramatic action and protest may draw more attention to the controversial subject, climate change is undoubtedly a priority concern.
Global Climate and Our Communities
The effects of global climate change naturally impact on our communities in many ways. Whilst community development professionals work towards making improvements, public relations experts have had to concentrate on communication challenges. Joint public relations and community development projects however, can create a more effective impact within individual communities.Global climate change creates problems that require we rethink the way in which we live and travel. Although we generally view climate change as a planetary issue and risk, the changes undoubtedly present a huge range of problems and consequences for individuals, their business, community and country, and also on a global level.
The Climate Change Act
Legislation has been passed, in the UK, that introduces a long term global framework to help tackle the issues of climate change. Introduced into parliament in November 2007, the Climate Change Bill became law in November 2008. The Act provides a workable approach to managing and responding to the causes and consequences of climate change in the UK. The Climate Change Act also sets ambitious targets for 2050, issues carbon budgets and targeted greenhouses gases, and strengthens the framework of accountability.The impact and adaptation to climate change and waste reduction schemes are also identified.
The Importance of Good PR
Not all global developments and climate change impacts are easily measurable. For this reason information needs to be filtered to professionals who can then effectively interpret the negative effects in a way individuals can readily relate to. Relaying information, at mass and interpersonal levels, is necessary in order to improve public understanding of the environmental problems we face globally. Without this standard of communication however, adjustments and improvements to climate change policies cannot be implemented successfully.The subject of climate change has been transformed from a technical issue into a problem that attracts widespread public concern. As global warming and climate change concerns continue to impact on environmental issues, providing good communication of the problems involved provides the only means of educating the public, and increasing awareness of the risks and potential consequences. This will enable individuals to adapt to climate change and to help reduce the risk of global warming through their actions and contributions to the cause.
