Climate Arena 2024

Participatory and deliberative democracy processes are becoming common among European cities. Also, the European Union invites all citizens to take active part in political decisions. However, effective media coverage of these initiatives is far from being achieved. How can we bring them to the center of media attention? What can these assemblies do to grab a journalist's attention and what can journalists learn from these processes?
There is a general consensus on the efficacy of these participatory initiatives in terms of citizens' engagement and collaboration, but how could they become part of the public debate through media coverage so we can change climate policies on the local level?
Starting from the experiences of the Climate Citizens’ Assemblies in Bologna and Brussels, the session is intended to be an interactive and open discussion.
Take your seat in the fish-bowl and bring your ideas!

The impact of the fossil industry on our climate is undisputed. Yet, the industry is finding ways to stay on top of the discourse and climate action. We knew they lied about what they knew. Now they’re changing narratives and use different tactics. And there is no shortage of their enablers.  

Come to this session to hear from three journalists who will tell you how to investigate the players behind the scenes. Sam Bright will talk about social media influencers and how to spot them; Leonie Sontheimer will discuss the role of PR agencies and how they operate; Elena Kolb will tell you all about insurance companies. The reporters will share their tips on how to find information, how to report on enablers, and how to identify a good story.

This is our (recurring) roundtable to bring together journalists from South and Eastern Europe so we can talk about challenges we face reporting on the climate and the environment, as well as share strategies, tactics, methods and tips for reporting on the climate in tough regions. This is a space to have an honest peer-to-peer discussion on what works and what doesn't in regions where the media landscape is already problematic and the audience might need to be engaged with differently.

You don't need to be from Southern or Eastern Europe to join — come to share your experiences from your country, let's hear and learn from each other.

During the climate crisis, we need journalism that brings us forward. But whether writing stories about individuals or investigations about companies, climate journalism should remain critical and find the right balance between motivating the audiences and criticising the culprits.

Living in a tiny house means less material baggage but also less space. Taking the night train means more adventure, but also a slower trip. Carbon offsets projects can help to balance emissions from hard-to-decarbonise industries, but what if they cause unexpected consequences? Regardless of whether we are reporting on private involvement or on companies - we gain nothing if we paint the situation too positively.

In this roundtable, we share experiences and perspectives on the risks of constructive reporting to be turned into “feel-good stories”, greenwashing or advertising, and how to critically engage sources when researching climate solutions.

Come to this session with your own experiences and “solutions” dilemmas, and let’s discuss them together.

Covering the climate crisis at the local level often faces significant obstacles. This networking event aims to bring together local journalists from various countries who report on the climate and environment. The main goal is to address the critical need for enhanced coverage of the climate crisis by empowering local journalists with the resources and networks necessary to drive real change within their communities.

This session will be facilitated by journalists from Italy’s FADA Collective. Participants will have the opportunity to network, exchange information, share best practices, discuss challenges and talk about investigation ideas. Perhaps, new journalistic collaborations can flourish — wouldn’t that be great! Come join this session if you’re covering the climate on a local level and meet like-minded journalists.

In response to the growing need for reliable climate information, this informal roundtable will bring together fact-checking communities from across Europe to connect and build trust. Representatives from five fact-checking organisations will share their insights, experiences, and challenges in not only combating climate misinformation in their day to day work but also finding their rightful place within the larger media ecosystem in Europe.

We want this roundtable to also be an opportunity to assess the needs of European climate fact-checkers and explore ways to enhance collaborations across borders.

This roundtable is open to all who'd like to learn more about the state of the art for climate fact-checking and share all lessons learned, good and bad, as well as best practices. We will keep the session informal and relaxed, and encourage unfiltered exchange of ideas.