15.10.09. Workshop for journalists ‘Climate Change and its Influence on Sustainable Development of Northern Regions’

 

 

 

 

On 15 October 2009, the St. Petersburg Gorky House of Scientists hosted an information and training workshop for journalists ‘Climate Change Challenge for Sustainable Development of Northern Regions’ organized by the United Nations Office in the Russian Federation, the Russian Regional Environmental Centre and the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet).

Today, climate change and search for effective solutions of related global problems are among the major international priorities. All over the world, people follow the continuing talks on the new global treaty that will regulate the emission of greenhouse gases after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. More than 190 countries supported the Bali Action Plan adopted in 2007. This plan paved the way for a comprehensive agreement to be formulated and signed at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

In this context, it seems important to raise the awareness of politicians, representatives of authorities, the business community and general public about climate change and the need for further actions to reduce the negative human influence on the environment. The mass media play a crucial role in this process.

Thus the main goals of the workshop were to stimulate the interest of journalists in the issue of climate change, raise their awareness about its consequences for the Russian Federation and the Arctic regions in particular; measures taken by the international community aimed at climate change mitigation and strategies proposed by the UN, including those for the regions of Russia; and ensure dialogue and information exchange in this area between media representatives and international and domestic experts.

The workshop was designed for the journalists of the North-West Federal District, St Petersburg and Moscow specializing in climate change issues and environment and interested in broadening their knowledge in this area. International and national experts, representatives of related academic institutions of St Petersburg and Moscow were among the participants. An additional part of the workshop was a round table ‘The Role of Mass-Media in Public Awareness on Weather and Climate’ held in the framework of the VI National Meteorological Congress organized in St. Petersburg by Roshydromet.

Workshop materials:

Agenda