Climate change is an issue continuing to dominate headlines with a wealth of information readily available at the click of a button. But does all this remain largely out of reach of those experiencing climate change’s adverse effects on a daily basis?
This is one of the key questions that Climate Asia seeks to address as the first major study into people’s experiences and understanding of climate change in Asia.
The project's aim is to establish the best ways to use media and communications to provide people directly affected by their changing environment with the information they need to respond.
It is supported by the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and targets those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – from those living off the land like farmers and fisherman, to urban slum dwellers and migrants.
Over 30,000 interviewed
In 2012, Climate Asia interviewed more than 30,000 people across seven countries in Asia - Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam – in the region’s largest ever public investigation of its kind.
Research included national surveys, focus groups and community assessments involving the general public, as well as in-depth interviews and workshops with the media, climate change experts and those in positions of power and influence.
Set of communication tools
Climate Asia encourages people's experience to be at the heart of media responses to climate change.
Our contribution will be to help define the ways in which climate is actually impacting people’s lives and resources, how they are currently responding and the ways in which media and communications can best support this in future.
Climate Asia will provide a range of tools to enable anyone – from governments and donors to the media and NGOs – to use what we have learned from audiences to develop their own communications to meet the public’s needs.
Our goal is to encourage organisations across the region to develop their current media programming and communications strategies to serve people better.
The tools will include a regional summary, individual country reports, an interactive data portal and a practitioner guide series to be launched in September 2013.
BBC Media Action hopes to make its own programming as a result of the findings.
Related links:
Climate Asia case study: Indonesia
Climate Asia case study: Nepal
BBC Media Action's work on improving communities' resilience and responding to humanitarian crises
Climate Asia will provide a range of tools to enable anyone – from governments and donors to the media and NGOs – to develop their own communications to meet the public’s needs
