Climate Outreach at COP28: unlocking progress through public engagement
Around the world we’re seeing a surge in concern about climate change. People care, and they want to show up and be part of the solution. The countries and communities starting to make progress on climate have something in common: they put their citizens at the heart of what they’re doing. Involving, inspiring and informing people will unlock change and progress.
At COP28 we be shared our expertise around public engagement with global leaders, demonstrating that people are key to how we tackle the climate crisis. We urged them to plan how they’ll engage and involve their citizens.
Our Deputy CEO, Noora Firaq, attended the conference to host and participate in a number of high profile events including the ones below – links to live streams and recordings are included where available.
We were at these events
Spotlight event: ‘COP28 Presidency ACE in-session event – empowering a fair, inclusive and just transition’
Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) comes under Article 12 of the Paris Agreement and includes education, training, public awareness and public participation.
Over the past few years Climate Outreach has been doing lots of work behind the scenes to help move this key topic forward at these negotiations and Noora co-facilitated one of the event’s World Cafe sessions, around participatory approaches. The objective of the event was to share best practices demonstrating the pivotal role of ACE in promoting just transition, and to exchange ideas, views and solutions that can help advance the implementation of ACE – which is so needed.
10 December, 10:00-12:30 GST / 06:00-8:30 GMT – Plenary Room #2 with UNFCCC, Plenary Al‐Ghafat
What would the Earth say?
Three years ago, Sir David Attenborough stated that ‘saving our planet is now a communications challenge’. But have we risen to that challenge since? How far have we succeeded in explaining the issues, or perhaps more importantly, inspiring action around climate solutions? How best should we engage different audiences to ensure we drive their participation as politically active citizens and as considerate consumers. And how best can this cultural influence, accelerate the political process?
1 December, 14:15-15:15 GST / 10:15-11:15 GMT – UK Pavilion, Blue Zone
Led by Edelman
Recording will be added when it becomes available.
Climate misinformation and polarisation, let's discuss solutions!
Misinformation, radicalisation and polarisation on social media as well as in political and media discourse is alarming. The phenomenon has been exacerbated by the pandemic and now affects all public policies and slows down climate action. What solutions and best practices can inspire us?
2 December, 12:30-13:30 GST / 8:30-9:30 GMT – Canadian Pavilion, Blue Zone
Led by Equiterre
More information here. A recording will be available post-COP28. There was a livestreamed repeat on 5 December (see below).
Accelerating climate action through public participation
Climate Outreach explored how we have championed the ACE (Action for Climate Empowerment) agenda through our work.
3 December, 17:00-18:30 GST / 13:00-14:30 GMT – Portugal Pavilion
Led by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and hosted by the Portuguese Ministry for Environment and Climate Action
Repeat session: Climate misinformation and polarisation, let's discuss solutions
Rerun of session from 2 December in the Pavilion of Francophonie. Misinformation, radicalisation and polarisation on social media as well as in political and media discourse is alarming. What solutions and best practices can inspire us?
5 December, 14:45-15:45 GST / 10:45-11:45 GMT – Pavilion of Francophonie, Blue Zone
Led by Equiterre
A recording of the first session on 2 December will be available post-COP28.
Breathing for a better tomorrow: Engaging health professionals and civil society for clean air and healthy climate
Climate change and pollution that cause it harm human health, air pollution caused by fossil fuel combustion is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide. In this event, public health and medical experts, civil society members and parent groups discussed and explored opportunities and strategies on air pollution and health, and discussed interventions that civil society, public health & medical community make in fighting for clean air, a healthy climate and transitioning towards a sustainable fossil fuel free future.
6 December, 15:15-16:30 GST / 11:15-12:30 GMT – COP28 Health Pavilion, Blue Zone
Led by Amnesty International and Healthcare Without Harm
COP28 High Level Multi Stakeholder Dialogue: Balance for the Earth
This multi stakeholder dialogue explored opportunities to create new areas of collaborations among those involved in addressing the interconnected crisis of Climate and Nature and its impacts on People. It also spotlighted inspirational women leaders and high-level representatives from Member States, UN agencies, private sector, indigenous communities, farmers and youth in a spirit of shared leadership, while championing a 50:50 vision for gender balance, as well as inclusion and diversity.
8 December, 12:45-14:55 GST / 8:45-10:55 GMT – Women Pavilion, Green Zone
Led by SHE Changes Climate
Connect China’s youth generation and carbon neutrality: A research on climate communication and value segments
This conference looked at the endogenous connections between climate change and the Chinese public and how climate change communicators engage the younger generation using different approaches, as explored by Tsinghua University’s population-wide study.
9 December, 11:00-11:45 GST / 7:00-7:45 GMT – COP28 Shared Presentations Stage 3
Please note, unfortunately Noora was not able to join this event.
Communities catalysing social & environmental change: Intersectional approaches to climate action
This event explored how to foster scalable community-centred solutions for sustainable development and energy transition – particularly through public engagement, youth and local community-driven climate action, holistic capacity building, education and knowledge sharing at the intersection of social change and technological innovation.
9 December, 18:30-20:00 GST / 14:30-16:00 GMT – SE Room 4, Blue Zone
Co-hosted with Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC) & Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth (CSET Youth)
Please note, unfortunately Noora was not able to join this event.
ACE in-session Presidency event: Empowering a fair, inclusive and just transition
The event was opened by the Presidency of COP 28 and UNFCCC, followed by a presentation of examples of ACE integration into just transition strategies, policies, measures and actions. Further examples were presented in breakout groups to generate a focused discussion on specific aspects of ACE and just transition.
10 December, 10:00-12:30 GST / 06:00-8:30 GMT – Plenary Room #2 with UNFCCC, Plenary Al‐Ghafat
More information on ACE can be found here.
Anote’s Ark: screening and panel discussion
What do you do if your country is being swallowed by the sea? Anote’s Ark is a powerful film addressing environmental migration, national identity and personal heartbreak. It follows Kiribati’s President Anote Tong as he races to find a way to protect his nation’s people and maintain their dignity. Our colleague Noora joined the panel discussion following the screening of the film to discuss migration as a powerful tool for climate resilience.
10 December, 18:00-19:30 GST / 14:00-15:30 GMT – Climate Live Pavillion, Blue Zone
Climate Visuals at the COP28 Virtual Ocean Pavilion
22 November – 12 December, at this online link.
In partnership with Comms Inc.
This virtual pavilion is a free online platform dedicated to raising the visibility of the ocean; showcasing why the ocean matters in climate negotiations and to all life on our planet; and providing a communication platform for those unable to participate in COP28 in person. Our Ocean Visuals collection was showcased.
COP28 media and podcasts
Media
- With the backdrop of COP28, our CEO Rachael Orr speaks about the importance of framing and language around climate in this piece by Roger Harrabin in The Guardian.
- Our deputy CEO, Noora Firaq, being interviewed on BBC World live from day one of COP28:
- Our deputy CEO, Noora Firaq, gives her live reaction on BBC 5Live Breakfast (at 2:15:50 and 2:43:10) as King Charles gives his speech at COP28. Recording available until 26 December 2023.
- Our CEO, Rachael Orr, joined TimesRadio to discuss the outcomes of COP28.
Podcasts
- Our deputy CEO Noora Firaq joins the Wilder Podcast on the episode: What is COP 28 and why should we care?
- Our exiting Chair of Trustees and former advisor to the UK government on two COPs, Camilla Born, joined BBC Inside Science R4, from 22:43 to talk about COP (and why there is still hope) with BBC’s Georgina Rannard.
Climate Outreach reports for COP28
We’ve published several timely reports in the lead up to COP28, focusing on the global stocktake, public engagement success stories, and migration and climate change.
The global stocktake and public engagement
By Dr. Gurpreet Kaur
The global stocktake will be a key focus at GST – but what exactly is it, and importantly how does it relate to public engagement and why is that so critical?
Read hereSomething to talk about – success stories of public engagement to tackle climate change
By Alex Randall and Dr. Dina Zayed
This webpage explores Climate Outreach’s principles of effective public engagement and lays out a collection of case studies that show there are certain common strategies and approaches that underpin successful public engagement – regardless of differences in location and culture.
Read hereResilience on the move: Migration’s powerful role in creating climate resilience
By Alex Randall
The concept of migration as climate adaptation has emerged as a way of harnessing human movement as a conscious plan to adapt to worsening climate impacts. This briefing paper outlines policies and practices which would increase safety and enhance opportunities to use migration as a form of climate change adaptation.
Read hereSupporting public engagement on climate change – a guide for grant-makers
Grant-makers play a vital role in accelerating action on climate change. One of the key ways that philanthropists can leverage their resources to maximise impact is through supporting work focused on engaging the public on climate change. By supporting carefully considered interventions designed to drive major shifts in public sentiment, grant-makers can harness the force of public opinion and action to create powerful demands for change.
Read hereSign up to our newsletter
Thank you for signing up to our newsletter
You should receive a welcome email shortly.
If you do not receive it, please check your spam folder, and mark as 'Not Spam' so our future newsletters go straight to your inbox.