Five ways Copenhagen activates the climate change movement

There are many reasons why Copenhagen (lovingly #cop15) is (was soon) one of the most influential events of my lifetime. I attended on behalf of the WWF with a videoblog called Inside Cop15, managing the Twitter stream for #incop15 and #cop15 throughout the duration. Tomorrow I leave, but this event will impact my life for much time to come.

In fact, many others believe this conference is important because although we haven't yet achieved a binding and ambitious treaty (I've just heard a UN leaked document shoots for 450ppm and 3 degree rises from 1990 levels). Either way, I remain positive about the impact on my generation and generations to come.

Friends like Ben Wikler, Jason Mogus, Joe Solomon and Claire Buxton from the WWF International, believe that change can and is possible, and tools we've got already are a great way to enable communications for reducing emissions and urging for an ambitious, binding international climate treaty.

Five ways that #cop15 has activated the climate change movement (and me):


1. The Global Day of Action unites the climate movement

As of currently, over 3,200 registered events happened internationally for 350 to support 350ppm emissions reductions. From Australia to Zambia, I sat beside the 350.org crew at their Headquarters in Copenhagen and saw these videos and pictures live as they rolled in via #RealDeal.

Over 50K (at least) attended the Copenhagen Day of Action. Despite the cold (around 0 °C), young and old; Jew and gentile; hippie and capitalist, came along to support a binding treaty at #cop15. Although 3-15K were expected, over 50K attended and when the Executive Director of Greenpeace said he had news from local police, I expected the worse. In fact, Kumi Naidoo said local police estimated participants at 100K. Along with around 10 influential speakers, there were 3 Climate Witnesses, a supermodel and Danish actor and parliamentarian. It was probably the most inspiring day of my life.


2. Young people mobilized and participation enhanced through Copenhagen demos

Action! Aid had Climate Debt Agents, WWF had numerous stunts including my favorite 'The Climate Rescue Team', a Flashmob of Climate Flood-ers in Bella Center (where all the action happens and where NGOs were mostly excluded from which is another post in itself), the alternative #cop15 at the KlimaForum, and campaigns such as TckTckTck and 350.org, UK Youth Climate Coalition, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, PowerShift, as well as online and offline stunts from Avaaz, SustainUS: Youth for Sustainable Development who were actively participating online. Climate Justice Now also staged an important walk-out which met up with protesters. Although some violent protests happened, actions magnified that young people really care about climate change.


3. Climate change business and non-profits more successful with more offline contacts

Copenhagen connects loose loops from within green economies internationally. At Green DrinksNetSquared (among many other networking events) in Chicago, New York and London, I've networked alongside hundreds of green businesses and non-profits. Low carbon economies grow continuously in what the World Bank might call highly developed and developing economies, all personalities are welcome and valuable. Overall, connecting people face-to-face moves the green and low carbon economy forward.


4. Politicians driven to consider climate change

It's hard to believe in politicians. Constituents rarely know their politician by name. Until, for example, their representative takes away a specific right, many participate passively in politics. Obama has infused politics with hope, politics isn't very desirable in many countries. Politically, it's inspiring to see over 100 world leaders have agreed to come along to cop15 (ie. new industries and traditional businesses changing).


5. Raises awareness of climate change

Copenhagen overtook sex on Google as the most searched item online. This is not only surprising, it's seriously impressive. For an issue that's so near and dear to those working within climate change, it seems amazing that so many people are interested in what's happening. This means the world is interested in how politicians will craft legislation or what the future of the climate change movement will bring.


Of course, there are also ways that Copenhagen harmed the climate change movement. For instance, the energy used for transport to Copenhagen from around the world is expansive. Congruently, the energy consumed through video commentary is also massive. But this is the first step of the low carbon economy and with alternative sources of energy, we can solve many questions about energy consumption. This we can discuss later... and

InsideCop15: why go inside Copenhagen this December

Do you use Twitter or Facebook? Have you heard of the WWF? Do you have opinions on what world leaders should be addressing at Copenhagen? I’m elated to announce I'm doing social media outreach for Inside Cop15; a WWF project dedicating an entire, live and on-demand online media channel (highlighting the work of four film crews on the ground) at the UNFCCC Copenhagen Summit this 7-18 December. With a subjectively environmentally-centric viewpoint, I’ll be attending with boundless hope. You’ll hear more about this amazing project via the Twitter account and Facebook page!

While some are protesting outside Copenhagen, I’m attending and ask you to support world leaders creating international climate legislation. There are two reasons: outreach and political legitimacy. This is what I'm most interested in covering at Copenhagen, but again I'd like to represent YOUR interests so please connect on Twitter, Facebook or via comments on what you'd like to hear from Inside Cop15!

Firstly, communication and outreach campaigns themselves use energy extensively, as does ICT--around 2 percent of global carbon emissions. De facto, social media has areas where wastage could improve as any other industry. Nevertheless, communications are pivotal to encourage investments for the low carbon economy. For example, the efforts of the Carbon Trust raise awareness for and enable companies to reduce their carbon emissions. Social media for environmental projects should ensure communication captivates audiences; consumers will consider how climate change is a serious issue if left unaddressed. On the other hand, clean and low carbon investments--by both consumers and politicians--can save all our livelihoods.

Secondly, political legitimacy will help further the climate change cause. With less than one month before Copenhagen, groups around the world are connecting in different ways, including through grassroots communication approaches like those Obama used. With the prospect that world leaders (like Obama) will ignore calls of civil society and business on creating climate legislation, many are rightly worried. With an already established political and environmental constituency, many organizations, including Friends of the Earth agree, is a great channel to push leaders to agree to climate legislation and increase awareness of the importance of funding in the low carbon economy.

Further, history has shown difficult topics like suffrage or civil rights must be addressed through legislation. Without political contexts, regional climate legislation could be drowned by mistakes of others. Co-operation is not impossible; rather, through the support of thousands of dedicated individuals anything is possible. The issue of climate legislation is neither conservative nor liberal; rather, it’s international and cross-platform. Politicans may support climate legislation for their constituents, business or the political consequences. Regardless, maybe you'd like to see other issues being addressed at Copenhagen? I'd like to represent you!

We need help spreading the word! Blog about Inside Cop15, repost this blog, retweet and share among your contacts to make this Copenhagen Summit the most successful and urgent for international leaders! Follow InCop15 on Twitter and Facebook! Join the conversation! Let your voice be heard!

Nine innovative ways 350.org used social media

In 2007, together with university friends, Bill McKibben (well known author and environmentalist) ran a campaign called Step It Up which organized over 2,000 rallies at iconic places in all 50 US States. According to 350.org, these actions--from skiers descending a melting glacier to divers hosting an underwater action--helped convince political leaders, including then Senator Barack Obama, to adopt our common call to action: cut carbon 80% by 2050.

Since then, the 350.org has developed into an international campaign (placed at an especially important few weeks before Copenhagen in December) to urge leaders to support legislation which lowers carbon emissions to 350ppm. This simple idea is embodied in the following chart. From the chart, it seems straightforward what the obligations of civil society (including you and I) and government are until 2050. Of course, now the big question will be--will world leaders take up these issues at Copenhagen? Later this week, I'll reveal an interesting and effective way to get inside Copenhagen and set the agenda for those inside the conference--as I'm preparing to attend. More soon.

For now, I've described some key reasons why 350.org was successful in capturing powerful and numerous images happening globally. What's their motivation, is the campaign really necessary? And how might we find answers to reducing emissions? According to 350.org,

[Reducing emissions to 350ppm] will be a hard task, but not impossible. We need to stop taking carbon out of the ground and putting it into the air. Above all, that means we need to stop burning so much coal—and start using solar and wind energy and other such sources of renewable energy –while ensuring the Global South a fair chance to develop. If we do, then the earth’s soils and forests will slowly cycle some of that extra carbon out of the atmosphere, and eventually CO2 concentrations will return to a safe level. By decreasing use of other fossil fuels, and improving agricultural and forestry practices around the world, scientists believe we could get back to 350 by mid-century. But the longer we remain in the danger zone—above 350—the more likely that we will see disastrous and irreversible climate impacts.

In order to achieve the tough emissions reductions, outreach campaigns and lobbying efforts are several useful ways sustainability communities have reduced emissions so far (see, for example, how Camden Council in London is trying to stay engaged with their constituents about Climate Change or how Barnet Council has effectively reduced their carbon footprint through the interesting and creative videos with Do The Green Thing).

The following are nine innovative ways the 350.org campaign used social media tools:


1. Grassroots-style events organizing (making international co-ordination possible)

2. Clear, wordless (internationally-applicable) video mission in under 2 minutes (above)

3. Nine step organizing kit and even social network for event organizers

4. Effective use of 350 Twitter account inclunding a well-designed Twitter background, Twibbon and Tweets to highlight positive feedback from 350 participants and hashtags #350 and #350ppm for quick connections

5. Extremely usable website which invites participants to interact and review photos from around the world

6. One symbolic graph that defines the campaign (picture above)

7. Offline stuff like T-shirts to buy to improve organisation, but also point back to and support website brand

8. Two cool widgets. First, updates of number of actions and countries--involved tracking 350 events in real-time; secondly, a widget to update participants via text. These two widgets invited some serious feedback, and supported the over 5000 events which happened internationally!

9. A Facebook group that supported 350.org, but also co-created conversations around the event to engage participants in a place they likely visit daily





Things they could've done better (with more funding, maybe?)

1. Enable video sharing and embedding with code on their site, like what TED has pioneered (pictured on the left)
2. A more streamlined approach to tagging photos--Can't we tag photos via flickr? Would that be less time intensive?

Cop15: a call to social media action

Generations to come might call this the Generation or "Era of Change"; a time when enterprise and civil society came together to make impossible decisions. What was necessary was nothing less than international climate legislation; using all available tools to solve historic errors which mutilated environments and ecosystems.

Generations to come might also call this the, "Era of Stagnation" (also here). As the 44th American president, Barack Obama, won presidency on the platform of change--even a Nobel Peace Prize for thought leadership. Obama altered the way political campaigns would communicate, utilizing the power of social media to connect and engage constituents. Will the first decade of the 21st century be one where the US and other highly developed economies stifle change? Instead of supporting binding global carbon emission reduction targets, will nations only think of immediate consequences and trival costs?

As of 19 October 2009, there are 48 days until Copenhagen. Until then, environmentalists, concerned citizens, businesses and developing economies, like those of the South Asian Nations hope highly developed economies (like the US, EU, Australia and Canada) agree to move forward. We are writing history fuelled by passion and innovative ways to spread ideas. Active campaigns such as TckTckTck in the US and 10:10 in the UK (amongst dozens of others) are building momentum.

Today, social media marketers (in addition to other media outlets, like tv and radio) have the responsibility to consider our historical--and carbon--footprint. (I've pledged 10 percent reductions by 2010 [including going vegetarian, limiting international flying to friends and family and pushing for solar energy at home and work] have you?) As Seth Godin noted in Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, tribes have existed since the beginning of humankind. Today, social media tools enable more people to communicate with their communities than ever before.

Today is the time to galvanize the power your tribe today? Use viral marketing to create an "Era of Change". Why not include a Twibbon on your Twitter avatar? Spend some time learning more about what you and your friends can do to mitigate your carbon footprint or learn ways you can reduce your footprint today and tomorrow? Why not contact your local leader and be a leader yourself? Join me on the hunt for the world's most influential climate leader on the running up to Copenhagen.



Why not make use of that server space and connect with your Facebook, Twitter, FriendFeed or other community about environmental issues? I challenge you to use social media creatively to communicate about a local initiative for citizens or activists running up to Copenhagen. Feel free to connect with me at eg(at)carbonoutreach.com about regional events making significant change in your country, PLEASE!

Archbishop of Canterbury: Save Creation at Copenhagen

I've submitted this blog in Blog Action Day. Over 8,000 bloggers from 144 countries--totaling 11+ million viewers are covering climate change today, 15 October. Exciting, motivating and moving--considering there are less than 2 months to Copenhagen. I remain optimistic for global climate legislation in December. Keep me optimistic by speaking about Copenhagen to friends and co-workers.

Energy saving light bulbs (albeit ~16+ per chandelier) lit mammoth ceilings, supported by Gothic pillars at Southwark Cathedral. The surroundings certainly made the participant feel God had something grand to say about stopping disastrous climate change. Indeed, Operation Noah invited the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Rowan Williams) to speak and his mastery of theology was more than clear. Both eloquent and inspiring, Rowan urged for action before Copenhagen.

Quoting Genesis and referencing Noah's Ark, the Archbishop noted extreme displeasure of continuously expanding financial growth. This, according to the Archbishop, was foundational for humans' need to uphold humanity (including all living things, like Noah did when he ushered animals two-by-two [ie. breeding pairs] into his Ark to continue humanity [ie. the ecosystem]). Today, it seems, we've lost a sense of what life is, especially as a web of interactions; givings and receiving. In that era of constant growth, the respect for humanity and life has been lost. Moreover, the financial crisis shows that we've been in amnesia about our calling.

Most influential for me--the Archbishop noted changing ourselves would probably be the most difficult. The Church of England promises an 80% carbon emissions reduction by 2050. Even the Archbishop cannot answer all questions. Several questions from the audience were persistently difficult, including: What about expanding populations (the world cannot handle an infinite population, but does that mean some people shouldn't have children)? What is the Church of England doing to promote interfaith dialogue to create climate legislation at Copenhagen? For me, how do I balance the love for my family abroad with the love for God's higher calling for all of us to love humanity?

There are no easy answers, and no simple ways to solve this mess we've gotten ourselves into. But it seems the Archbishop recommends trying to find happiness first and being committed to reducing thereafter. And actually--this is a seriously smart idea. This might actually answer lots of questions; solve many problems--and reduce lots of carbon on the way. Until then, maybe we should all have a think of happy things that don't waste carbon, hey?

How grassroots campaigns use social media: PowerShift 09

In the following analysis, I describe how sustainability-focused organizations could use the power of political organizing to gain the financial and human-capital resources needed to urge governments to make global climate legislation for Copenhagen 2009.

Barack Obama's Nobel Prize in Peace has sparked me thinking about political organizing. The Barack Obama election was historical for several obvious reasons, including its successful fundraising campaign. In October 2008, Obama organizers pointed the BBC to its 632,000 new donors in September 2008 alone. At the time, the total number of donors was 3.1m (average donation in September: $86). By November 2008, the Obama campaign raised more than any other political campaign in history; over $630m.

The Obama campaign also benefited from the support of thousands of volunteers. Obama's campaign was organized for outreach in many ways, which included getting the support of hundreds of bloggers with RootsCamp (now @NewOrganizing). For the more traditional canvassers, Camp Obama taught volunteer co-ordinators how to mobilize other volunteers to knock on doors. Americans abroad called counterparts using American-registered Skype accounts with the Neighbor-to-Neighbor tool. In the States, you could come into your local Democrat office (or the occasional temporary workspace created in the nook of a local Democrat establishment) and meet other inspired Democrats to organize events. On the regional and local level, activism was strong because of good organization. At NetSquared New York City in November 2008, Australian Volunteer Co-Ordinator Mike Smith (Campaign Director for an Australian MP) even talked about how impecably clean databases were for other Obama volunteers when he spoke on maintaining campaigns 'on the cheap' (otherwise known as lots of volunteer time).

You could register online with Change.gov, watch inspiring YouTube videos, including well-maintained databases of swing voters and volunteers. The Democrats were finally up-to-speed on ways to engage target audiences. This online and offline community was nurtured through offline mantra's like what was noted in the Huffington Post, "Respect. Empower. Include." The Huff also noted, "Good organizing changes the world."

Others thought the Obama campaign got organizing a little too right; CNN even insinuated Obama's supporters were too enthusiastic--'creepy' and 'cult-like' even. Media Matters for America shortly repealed that claim, and this, too, was another way that liberal think tanks won the Presidency. With every conservative attack, the Obama campaign created YouTube videosFightTheSmears.com to continually draw upon the passion of hundreds of communities across the United States. Communities spent time and money to ensure Obama's Presidency.

Although unsuccessful, Howard Dean made a deep impact on the use of social media for grassroots organizing in his campaign for the Democrat seat during the 2004 Presidential election. Although his campaign wasn't as historic, it plays its own role in history, including the way Dean campaigner's and enthusiastic supporters staged 'Meetups'. The phenomenon was around the use of an 'internet site called Meetup.com'. The New York Times also noted Howard Dean's campaign was 'groundbreaking' because of the way it got many smaller donors, rather than the traditional smaller number of large-scale donors.

The difference, said Joe Trippi (November 2008), Head Organizer of the Howard Dean campaign, was that Obama was able to harness the power of Web 2.0 tools, and "he [Obama] was able to move thousands of people to organize". Trippi noted the importance of the 14.5m hours of YouTube videos; as valuable as 14.5m hours on broadcast TV (estimated cost: $47m).

In the same way, grassroots organizing for campaigns such as TckTckTck, 10:10, PowerShift (Australia, UK and USA), Hopenhagen, ClimateVoice (along with regional initiatives like E-Day) channels the support of thousands--if not millions--of participants internationally. This, laid onto the already established networks in communities across the world with organizations such as NetSquared, Green Drinks, Avaaz, Transition Towns and more conserve e-mail networks such as Climatini for carbon financiers. Environmentalists already have existing networks in place to spring to action for the call of duty (ie. today's Greenpeace protesters occupying Houses of Parliment to publicize climate change action), and new networks are springing up weekly to support local sustainable development. This is a wonderful sign!



The question that now remains is: how will green companies and organizations utilize the power of social networks for their benefit? Will social enterprises and non-profit organizations have enough engagement (similar to the 'Respect. Empower. Include.' mantra of Obama's campaign) that volunteers and consumers will continue to investing in their idea? It seems clear that today--businesses and non-profits should be clear that global climate legislation is necessary and can work alongside health legislation. Indeed, Obama recently signed a 15-page Environmental Executive Order, outside of the Climate Bill begin [not likely] debated in the Senate. The United States--one of several of the highest emitting and earning countries in the world! Also, says the Pew Center, the States will be 'the single greatest obstacle to an effective global climate effort'. If there ever was a time to get involved with motivating fellow constituents of the importance of climate legislation--now is it!

One organization (that just had an affiliate event in London 9-11 October) is PowerShift. Powershift started through the Energy Action Coalition in June 2004 by youth climate leaders. The North American branch now has 36 active and 14 supporting partners. Regional Summits and events made this organization successful and spread the world to Australia and the UK. There are several reasons why PowerShift resonates with young people, but probably one of the ways that PowerShift has been most successful is in the use of social media (and particularly Twitter). This is because their strategy was, like Howard Dean's, to get participants to meet offline--demonstrating in front of the White House for green jobs, Flash Dancing in Syndey or unConferencing in London. Simply: social media and 'digital activism' is not only about digital. Like Howard Dean's 'meetups', online and social networks are only as strong as their and even websites like offline networks.

With millions of potential environmentalists waiting for business, government and civil society for Copenhagen, now might be the ideal time to start considering how your company or organization might support climate change development. Of course--considering Blog Action Day is on 15 October. The topic: climate change. Don't hesistate to do your bit to support global climate legislation this December at Copenhagen.

TckTckTck: take action during Global Climate Week

This post will soon be cross-posted on Green.tv.

Upon entering the 8th Avenue side of Central Park, small, unpretentious yellow leaflets pointed me alongside busy crowds of tourists and New Yorkers, underneath a small bridge and looking onto the Trump Ice Rink. There, nearly 1000 participants—young and elderly—came together to create several large-scale human sculptures under the watchful eye of world famous choreographer Christopher Caines.

The weather was beautiful; the sun shone brightly and winds softly rustled against the lush, Central Park greenery. Excited New Yorkers looked onto Christopher organizing the large group into several formations, much of which appeared to be an hourglass from the ground. When watching the YouTube video, one can see the group shaped as earth trapped inside an hourglass as the earth dissolved like sand.

Why? The consortium of over 75 civil society organizations (including World Wildlife Fund, Oxfam, Greenpeace, 350.org, US Climate Action Network, Avaaz, 1Sky, Sustain US and Energy Action Coalition, among others) aimed to send a strong public message to leaders meeting at the UN Climate Summit on 22 September.

There has been much contention among environmentalists as to whether international meetings and their advocates really make a difference in creating deep change to reduce emissions. For Oxfam, two things are essential for developments on climate change: firstly, rich countries should reduce their carbon emissions by 40 percent (below 1990 levels) by 2020; secondly, $150B earmarks per year to help poor countries to reduce their carbon emissions ($100B) and adapt to climate change ($50B).

Indeed, high polluters and low-income countries have aggressively avoided climate legislation and further, even sticking to climate targets has proved difficult for outspoken UK, which promised 40% carbon emissions reductions. Let’s not forget though—without international legislation, Europe could not have developed so quickly after World War II. Global climate legislation (especially via Copenhagen) encourages transparent political and economic development. Public opinion—visible through offline and online voices.

What other than protest and public outcries for change will change government opinion? Why should you support Global Climate Week? @TckTckTck, @Hopenhagen @TenTenUK @ClimateCamp @0co2caravan, @AgeofStupid, @ClimateAction and numerous other local and regional campaigns (PLEASE recommend great green campaigns making a difference) are making great strides to reach out about climate change awareness. Play your part! Use this chance to chat with non-green friends about the implications of climate change, make change in your own life and let it rub off.

Social media advocate? Put the @TckTckTck Twibbon on your Twitter avatar! You can also see the video streaming live via livestream.com/climatevoice, soon it’ll be streamed on tcktcktck.org.

Five minutes for #Tweehive: Why are bees dying?

In July 2008, at the Taste3 Conference (co-hosted by TED) at the Robert Modavi Winery, California, a group of individuals came together around great food, wine and art. There, Dennis vanEngelsdorp made a plea for bees.

There, Dennis noted bees dying in droves. Since then, numerous outlets have covered this recent phenomenon--destroying the livelihoods of American, French, Canadian, British, Argentinean, Iranian and Israeli farmers, although less in Australia because its island-like border security of July 2008. This problem is definitely an international issue, although the next few paragraphs are dedicated to US government steps to curing CCD.

There seem to be several reasons for bees dying at such alarming rates, including Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), where worker bees abruptly disappear, a virus-like situation starting late 2006. As of June 2009, the Beesource says causes include drought, mite control, parasites, pesticides, chemical buildup, feed/nutrition, and decreased bee pasture.

So why should we care? About one mouthful in three in the diet directly or indirectly benefits from honey bee pollination. According to USDA and AIA surveys, as of May 2009: "Honey bee colony losses nationwide were approximately 29 percent from all causes from September 2008 to April 2009, according to a survey conducted by the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture".

In 2007, the USDA even created an Action Plan and CCD Steering Committee. The CCD Steering Committee June 2009 report represents the work of 8 Federal agencies, 2 state departments of agriculture, 22 universities and several private research efforts "In this report, two forthcoming publications have produced evidence of increasing honey bee losses [31% (2007); 35% (2008)] beyond the already-high losses experienced in 2006 (20-25%) (pg 7)".

One Israeli-US company (Beelogics) is even testing a CCD anti-viral agent that promises to alleviate CCD's effects. Speaking on indirect effects, "Today it's not about honey but about pollination," says Ben-Chanoch (CEO of Beeologics to ISRAEL21c news service). According to the USDA, Bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables.

Green marketer John Grant authored the Green Marketing Manifesto in 2007 [John Tweets @greennormal and blogs at Greennormal], and as green marketers do continued to develop outreach strategies for companies and organizations. Notable. But in July 2009, John told me about this GREAT idea he had--to use the #Tweehive hashtag to support awareness raising around the issue of bees dying internationally. I certainly did my part and joined the conversation, and it definitely made me think and want to spread the word so well done, #Tweehive!

As a social media activist, I look forward to numerous such campaigns surrounding awareness raising but believe #Tweehive also has the opportunity to raise money like Twestival (#Twestival). Hashtags have great room for development for new and innovative organizations to have a platform for reaching out with a highly developed and internationally connected sustainability community.

#Tweehive will show up during Pestival (3-4 September hosted by the ZSL London Zoo at the Southbank Centre, London) where London celebrates insects, the arts and ecology.

Ten ways Twitter helps develop the American Clean Energy and Security Act (#ACES)

The American Clean Energy and Security Act is one of the most important actions since President Bush Senior enacted the Clean Air Act in 1990. The Clean Air Act set out to decrease levels of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) - the pollutants that cause acid rain - using a cap and trade approach.

The Clean Air Act is considered largely successful due to market mechanisms spurring innovative and rapid change. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, as of 2005, [SO2 and NOx] emissions reductions were more than 7 million tons from power plants, or 41 percent below 1980 levels (paragraph 5). [The program started officially in 1995].

Yesterday, actors from across the Midwest joined together to show their support for a strong, transparent American Clean Energy and Security Act at "Moving the Midwest forward: the Benefits of Building a Low Carbon Economy". The Environment Law & Policy Center, NRDC, JPMorgan, Union of Concerned Scientists, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Illinois Institue of Technology came together to consider the implications of a 'Smart Grid', low carbon economy.

What will make this American legislation as successful (hopefully more) than the Clean Air Act? Public participation. Sharing, reading, commenting and sharing thoughts--easily viewed at #ACES. It's an essential element of democratic processes to be involved with legislative development.

For Americans and the world, #ACES forms the foundation for what both highly developed and developing economies will commit to during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from 7-18 December. This will effectively determine the course of success and there's reason to be urgely optimistic. But not without communicating and aggressively outreaching about the benefits of the bill and giving the public reasons to support #ACES!

Why it's important that we're speaking about #ACES now on Twitter:


1. Learning--Twitter environmentalists have strong opinions and share thoughts

2. Sharing--hearing #ACES amendments, Tweeters can urge constituents to lobby local (now) Senators to veto that amendment

3. Transparency--while not all amendments and information is public, this is a great chance to be part of a historic moment of positive change

4. Networking--know who cares about the American Low Carbon Economy

5. Business development--explore how #ACES change will influence your business

6. Accessibility--information is available immediately

7. Enhances--Green businesses and organizations have all the more relevance and success. This is helping us build the low carbon economy.

8. #OpenGov--business and organization is confirming they support government outreach online

9. Projection--knowing what's happening and comparing it to history enables the green community to project future developments and get prepared for potential space for sustainable innovation

10. Personal--helping individuals connect with legislation one-on-one helps create quicker change

PR is changing: Chicago Media 2.0

Two notable reports and two events happened this week in support of PR 2.0--in Chicago, New York, London and Tehran.

The British government recently launched Digital Britain, a report on the development of the Knowledge-Based economy and internet access in the UK. In the US, a Chicago organization launched its own inquiry on digital access—reporting on how new media is changing the face of local media outreach. Also this week, liveblog feeds from 140 Character Conference in New York (#140conf) and the #IranElection in Tehran put pressure on traditional media (ie #CNNfail) to admit the power and increases in transparency that Twitter brings.

News sources have multiplied and proliferated with mobile access to information. The effects of the knowledge-based economy are clear: we’re getting lots of content from a variety of sources. Engaging broad audiences using new media has become more straightforward.

Whereas social media outreach connects and enables multiple audiences locally, print media has failed to cover and embrace diverse local communities (Seth Godin may say, Tribes). In Chicago, print publications are taking the brunt of these economic setbacks. The Chicago Tribune and Sun Times have both decreased their staff significantly in the past year, with the Chicago Tribune opting for Colonel Tribune on Twitter, now beefing up their digital content.

Indeed, local news (with the opportunity to pour into the international stage) is an essential element of any successful movement; it informs and engages citizens to take action. I argue local news is essential in creating and maintaining low carbon communities and media outreach on local issues such as Climate Camp UK. With increased ways to receive and give feedback, citizens could communicate--an absolutely essential element in the move to a low carbon economy.

Meanwhile, in Chicago...


The Chicago Community Trust asked the Community Media Workshop (a Chicago-based non-profit dedicated to teaching other non-profits how to access media space) to create a report on how media is evolving in Chicago. After CMW’s inspiring Making Media Connections Conference (#mmc2009) last week, I wanted to give more face time with this interesting, groundbreaking and recently released New News Report.

According to the report, "The space available to produce local news at our traditional print and broadcast news outlets is shrinking" (2). Therefore, the question guiding their report was: In an online world, what does local news look like—and what do we want it to look like?

Key Findings

1. Focus groups with 33 non-profit leaders defined important elements of local news coverage and vision for a better future. What’s essential for them:

a. Vetted (edited for accuracy and reflective of prevailing community values; biases expected but transparent about biases)
b. Selected
c. Portraying most relevant and timely issues and events; framing stories and conversations to inform a common agenda and vision of the most urgent local issues and opportunities

2. Local news coverage has declined since 1989, but online local news publications have not yet filled their gap

3. CMW assembled a list of nearly 200 online news sites, blogs or e-newsletters serving the Chicago region

4. Readers are prepared to change from traditional to online news if the three key areas (above) are fulfilled

5. Chicago consumers are getting news from more places

6. Journalists and writers use social media (to connect to potential stories) and bloggers and media outlets are trying to increase their presence on social media (for instance, Chicago Tribune’s Colonel Tribune, a noteable name in Chicago Twitter circles). See also the graph on the right.



Some questions remain:

Has local media always been shrinking, and we just didn’t notice or care about local developments? What are the business implications in developing (not taking for granted the Knowledge-Based economy will develop the “Super Broadband” noted by Greg Sanders on pg. 29)?






What will local (and indeed, international) journalists do as bloggers, who are receiving no funding to blog (pg. 12)? Is there any downside in receiving our information from unpaid sources? As new sources increase, will increased legitimacy and objectivity happen through natural process? Furthermore, how can non-profits and environmentally focused organizations and businesses keep up with the continuing local outreach media changes and continue to increase funding and profit?


Results?

Now, it's up to bloggers, journalists and concerned citizens to take part in the social media process. With the massive uptake in Twitter and other blogging platforms, it seems this is exactly the trend sustainability communicators are seeing. I continue to urge sustainability focused companies to get on Twitter! One win for Carbon Outreach is that Mashable noted @carbonOutreach this #EcoMonday as one of 75+ Environmentalist to Follow.

Although there's lots of time necessary for social media outreach, this area is clearly a win for sustainability PR 2.0; companies and organizations have more reasons to create clear, concise and transparent communications. At the end of the day, this is beneficial for the low carbon economy and a triple win.