Institute for Environmental Studies Perspectives on climate change: what the media need to know Joyeeta Gupta

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 2 Coping with complexity: Sustainable development Economic development Measures to deal with climate change Sustainable Development Measures to deal with climate change Reduces economic development Reduces sustainable development Media: Understand the perspective from which people are speaking

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 3 Coping with complexity: Uncertainty There is uncertainty in the knowledge on climate change; this uncertainty does not imply that the knowledge is inaccurate or incorrect. Media: Often strives for provocative debate by inviting those for and those against climate change to discuss climate change

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 4 Long-term objective Coping with complexity: Winners and Losers

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 5 Coping with complexity: Seriousness In some countries, the media is treating climate change as if it is an apocalyspe. The Institute for Public Policy Research – calls it ‘climate porn’. Media: Focusing on the actions people can take makes it more positive than making the problem seem unmanageable.

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 6 Coping with complexity: Shifting political paradigms Development N S Pollution Inverted U curve may be a zig-zag curve Leadership paradigm N S N reduces emissions and helps S Conditional leadership USEU S N reduces emissions partly via helping S - CDM Leadership sans US EU S CEITS US JSCaNZ N helps S via CDM US Leadership competition N mainstreams cc help in development cooperation

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 7 Coping with complexity: Emissions Trading Assess total permissible emissions South N Per capita North S Grandfathering North S –No long term target, so not assessed. Divide between countries –Either per capita Not politically possible –Or grandfathering Not politically possible, except through a smart negotiating strategy Countries can trade Efficient solution

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 8 Possible attention to: Cities and climate change

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 9 Speakers Grace Akumu: Dealing with Scientific Content and the Climate Science Debate –Grace – Exec Director of Climate Network Africa Eric Hall: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol: Key Programming and Reporting Elements –Eric – former journalist with Reuter presently with UNFCCC as the Communications and Media Manager

UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education 10 Themes for discussion How does on report on uncertainty to the public? How does one simplify complexity? How does one ensure balance? Does one ensure balance? What should be the tone of the information provided? How can the information be contextualized? How can the information be made relevant? Does the media have an educative role?