Reaching the Public on Climate Change: Up-to-and-Beyond UN IPPC 2013-14

The MeCCSA CCES, in conjunction with Liverpool University’s ‘Living With Environmental Change’ research theme steering group, will be delivering a symposium on March 30th 2012, with the title ‘Reaching the Public on Climate Change: Up-to-and-Beyond UN IPPC 2013-14’. The outline is as follows:

Climate change as an issue has been somewhat eclipsed by economic turbulence and economic crisis in Europe. Maintaining its profile in the national dialogue is a significant challenge for a wide range of organisations and institutions. This symposium draws on speakers from a range of these. The speakers will present their take on the challenge of keeping the public, stakeholders and organisations engaged with and informed about climate change, or the problems of confronting the issue in a legislative or social arena. But in addition, scholars in this area will speak on their area of specialisation, as it relates to the issue of public engagement – in the domains of media coverage of the issue, and attitude formation and change in this area. The aim is that the symposium will be an exchange of ideas, experiences and expertise.

So far, the speakers approached or who have already agreed to speak include:

Professor Neil Carter, University of York, Climate Policy specialist
Jennifer Pride, Welsh Government, Head – Climate Change. Communications and Engagement
Juliet Staples, Liverpool City Council, Climate Change Manager
Todd Holden, Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and former Director of the Enworks environment business support programme
Richard Black, BBC Environment correspondent
Dr Neil Gavin, Media and Climate Change
Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh, Cardiff University, Climate attitude specialist

Programme and contact information

10.30-
Registration

11.00-11.05
Welcome: Dr Neil Gavin (University of Liverpool, LWEC, and CCES Convenor)

11.05-12.15
Todd Holden (Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and former Director of the Enworks environment business support programme) ‘Climate change and the business community’
Dr Pete North (University of Liverpool) ‘Building a low carbon economy’

12.15-1.00 Lunch

1.00-2.30
Jennifer Pride, Welsh Government (Head, Climate Change, Communications & Engagement) ‘Climate change in government’
Dr Monica Contestabile (Senior Editor, Nature Climate Change) ‘The social science dimension of climate change’
Sarah Dewar (Third Sector & Environmental Sustainability Lead, Liverpool PCT) ‘Climate and the NHS’

2.30-2.45 Coffee

3.00-4.30
Dr Neil Gavin (University of Liverpool) ‘The Media and Climate Change’
Richard Black (BBC Environment correspondent) ‘Reporting climate change’
Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh (Cardiff University) ‘Climate attitudes & attitude change’

4.40-5.30 Round table: ‘Where Now for Climate Change?’

5.30- Reception

All expressions of interest in attending should be communicated to Vicki Wood:
(vicki.wood@liv.ac.uk Tel: 0151-794-2666)

Venue location: Foresight Centre
https://www.liv.ac.uk/maps/ [‘Campus map (printable PDF)’]
Building 359 – Grid ref.C10