ECCO chamber

Last month, climate-concerned communicators from across Europe jetted off to Norway (#greensgobyair) to discuss, yet again, how better to construct a message that will convince the public that they are not simply a bunch of spin doctors and publicly funded propagandists. ECCO, the organisers of the conference, describe themselves as follows:

ECCO is an informal network with the broad aim of information-sharing and capacity-building among communicators. It strives for increased uptake of climate science and climate communication in Europe. Communicators and communication advisors of climate research centres and associated institutions across Europe are the prime targets of the network. ECCO membership is personal and by invitation only. ECCO will aim to improve its members’ communication capacity through the sharing of ideas, best practices and knowledge, and by providing a forum for discussion and support.

The conference was described as a kick-off-conference "as part of the network’s efforts to prepare the scientific community in Europe, and in particular communications officers working for the home institutions of IPCC authors, for the launch of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report".

Familiar names abounded: Bob Ward, James Painter, Asher Minns, and the Antarctic fox herself, Emily Shuckburgh. Dan Kahan flew in from the USA.

Amazing to think that all those airmiles were clocked up for a chat about a report. They must be really worried by the fate of the planet.

(H/t Bebben)

Comments

[Richard Drake]

Richard Verney:

Since 2000, CET shows that winter temperatures have fallen by almost 1.5degC ... The public are paying more and feeling cold. For all the spin in the world, it is a hard sell against these basic facts.

Given spatio-temporal chaos the 'feeling cold' part was not for me an inevitability. Chalk it up to naivety if you like but I thank God every day for what we've been given.

[geoffchambers]

Alex (5:33 PM)
You’re on to something there, though James Hogg got there before you (1826). See “The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner”
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2276/2276-h/2276-h.htm

[Oakwood]

You can't do 'sightseeing and dinner on Oslo fjord' via Webex.

[Oakwood]

One to be a fly-on-the-wall:

'How to defend the Science', by Bob Ward.

[AlecM]

I am reliably informed that in the secret sessions, all those assembled put their fingers in their ears and said, in unison, 'La la la la la'.

[Radical Rodent]

Mike J: I am aware of the devious ideas being promulgated within the corridors of Wastemonster. What worries me is the blatant revelation of them – if they are so brazen as to commit the scheme for public perusal, then it may be that they are so far down the pan scheme that they think it cannot be countered.

Athelstan: as you say, when the subjugation goes so far, there is only one way to end it, and the results will not be pleasant. There is a Great War poem about the English learning to hate; it is an emotion that is best not aroused in the English, as they tend to get rather good at implementing it.

[steve ta]

I have far more respect now for these environmentalists than I had before I read this posting.

Since ECCO membership is personal and by invitation only, then obviously all those attending are covering the costs out of their own pockets, and no doubt also offsetting the carbon cost of the flight via one of the many companies offering this scam service.

This all shows how commited they are personally to saving all of our grandchildren.

[Chuck L]

Awesome, a bunch of spin doctors and publicly funded propagandists convene a conference on how to construct a message to the public so the public does not think they are a bunch of spin doctors and publicly funded propagandists.