By: Hub Coordinator, Posted: Jun 5 09

Regions: Global

Issues: Environment, Sustainable development, Water

Tags: carbon emissions, climate change, climate refugees, COP15, droughts, environmental justice, flooding, global warming, greenhouse gases, Kyoto Protocol

                                                                       [This post is by Morgan Williams of Internews Europe]

Climate change is real and it is happening now - the way it is reported will affect how everyone deals with that fact.

To all of you who are passionate about bringing the issue of climate change to life for people around the world: Participate in and spread the word about the Earth Journalism Awards!

We want to give people the chance to win a trip to cover the pivotal negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen this December, when 200 countries will be concluding negotiations on the future of the Kyoto Protocol to combat climate change.  The complexity and potential impact of the measures under negotiation in December make Copenhagen one of the most significant gatherings in history.

As journalists, there must be an awareness of the difference good reporting can make to public opinion.  "it is very important to deepen public understanding of climate change and the urgent need for an agreement in Copenhagen.  The media has a vital role to play both in explaining what is required for the world to be able to make a dramatic shift towards a low carbon society and to be able to adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change," said Yvo de Boer, Executive Director of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Internews invites all professional and citizen journalists from across the globe to submit their best stories about climate change, in any media, to http://awards.earthjournalism.org by our September 7th 2009 deadline.  Winners will be flown to the COP15 in December, where they will cover the negotiations and be honoured at a high-profile awards ceremony.  Learn more with this video: