Harnessing SBCC for Climate Action: Making Sense of the Evidence and Practice Now to Accelerate Transformational Change

Abstract summarising a Preformed Panel Session at the 2022 International SBCC Summit in Morocco (see Related Summaries below for presentations that formed part of this panel):

"Negative news stories and communication around climate change can make us feel hopeless about the future of our planet. Around the world, millions of people are struggling to respond to the climate crisis or need help to understand climate science, engage with policy discussions on carbon emissions and adopt sustainable behaviours. Never has adaptability, innovation and transformation been so urgently needed. As the broadcaster, natural historian and author Sir David Attenborough said "Saving our planet is now a communication challenge. We know what to do, we just need the will". To realise the potential that SBCC has in supporting climate action, there needs to be strong evidence on how SBCC can support climate action and drive participation in these essential issues. What is known so far? How can SBCC influence individual and community action to address these issues? And what partnerships and innovative collaborations are needed within and across sectors? This preformed panel discussion will bring together those who have evaluated, delivered and funded SBCC interventions for climate action to reflect on the practice and evidence so far. It will explore three key questions: From existing interventions, how can SBCC influence climate action? What role(s) can it play? What can we learn from the existing evidence on how media and communication can drive action? For SBCC to be funded more in this space, what collaborations and evidence is needed? This panel will highlight how SBCC is helping to respond to the changing climate and elevating youth voices. "