A-Z of Climate Resources for Communicators
Welcome to our A-Z of useful climate resources for communicators. This is a living resource that will grow bigger and better over time with help from our wider community. We are not climate experts by any means, but a handful of eager communicators that want to learn more, share knowledge that we find, and shout about the wonderful work already being done in this space.
We would love to hear of any recommendations to add to this list, so please get in touch across &Smyth social or email us at hello@andsmyth.ie
The A-Z of Climate Action resources
We’ve captured an array of excellent organisations and websites that will help support your business wherever it might be in its climate journey. This list is not exhaustive but it’s a good start! Let us know what else needs to be listed.
A New Era in Climate Communications
This is a white paper developed by the New Zero World in partnership and with the support of The Global Commons Alliance. The resource introduces a new approach to communicating the climate crisis using science and creativity. This ten-chapter resource also has a convenient keyword search option. Visit the website here.
Albert.org
The home of environmental sustainability for film + TV. UK-Based. Lots of great resources, training and case studies to access here.
Free tools: Use the online Editorial tool quiz to check how planet-friendly your programme is before executing/implementing it. Or create a free account to access the full list of production-focussed tools including a Carbon Calculator and Carbon Action Plan.
Case studies: Get inspired by reading about programmes (UK) that have introduced environmental issues and sustainable behaviours within content. Find the directory of case studies here.
B-Corporation.net
Curious about starting on the journey to become a benefit corporation (B-corp)? Take the free B-Impact assessment which helps companies to measure, manage, and improve their impact by answering a series of questions about business practices. This is just one tool provided by its insight centre B-Lab, and is a great way to provide a baseline to concentrate further efforts.
Change by Degrees
Sustainability consultants providing global expertise across Ireland & beyond to businesses, charities and organisations. Check out their website here. It also runs the Climate Club newsletter with information shared about different initiatives, reports and helpful tips.
Climate Change Advisory Council
An independent advisory body tasked with assessing and advising on how Ireland can achieve the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy. It has a Climate Change in Ireland tab which documents organisations, websites and links to relevant legislation.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
The EPA #TakeAction initiative ecnourages communities to be a positive influence for a better future. The information in this section introduces you to ideas on what you can do and what is available to assist you. Find out more here.
Future Earth
Future Earth harnesses the experience and reach of thousands of scientists and innovators from across the globe. This global community is spread over a series of networks and governing and advisory bodies. Its Science Insights tab digests the latest sustainability research to make it more accessible for policy-makers and the scientific community. In Explainers, complex terminology is made accessible for engaged citizens and decision-makers alike. Its monthly newsletter rounds up news and analysis of sustainability science and climate change. Or, if seeking academic content visit its Global Research Networks section.
Future Earth Catalog
Not to be confused with Future Earth, this online community creates great climate-focused shareable content including this handy Glossary decoding climate terminology.
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth Ireland is a community that is working towards a world of zero pollution and is part of the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021.Find out what e-actions and campaigns you can get involved with here.
Global Footprint Network’s Footprint Calculator which identifies an individual’s ecological footprint, providing the user with ‘danger zones’ and a tailored ‘offshoot day’ which will suggest at what point in a year will all resources have been used along with how many planets one would need to sustain existing lifestyles.
GreenFeet
An online solution that helps companies of all sizes manage their emissions, and identify ways to reduce their emissions footprint for the benefit of the climate (paid). Along with the emissions matrix, certain plans offer access to ESG/sustainability experts and a full automated calculation of a business’ emissions.
Irish Environmental Network
A network of individual environmental NGO’s that work individually and jointly to protect and enhance the environment, and to place environmental issues centre stage in Ireland and internationally. Discover its member directory here for more information.
Project Drawdown
Our favourite resource and the ‘one stop shop’ for finding actionable tools that feel hopeful, impactful and accessible. Some of the resources included on the site include a video series Climate Solutions 101, and a guide on how to make climate impact in any job ‘Climate Solutions at Work’. In addition, there are solutions tailored to specific industries:
Purpose Disruptors
An honourable mention for a collective that is very close to our hearts! Purpose Disruptors is a UK & Irish based organisation whose mission is “to catalyse the advertising industry’s climate transition to align with the IPCC’s 1.5 degree global warming target”. In Ireland, the network also includes PR and Communications professionals and in the relatively short time since it was established, some of Purpose Disruptor’s outputs have included the Advertised Emissions report 2022, (a framework analysing the emissions caused by an uplift in sales from advertising and promotion), Change the Brief alliance and The Good Life 2030 creative.
Together with the PRII and PRCA, Purpose Disruptors Ireland PR working group undertook primary research among Irish PR communications practitioners to benchmark sentiment and thinking around sustainability in PR and Communications in Ireland. The research aim was to identify the challenges, concerns and opportunities for change around sustainability in the PR & Communications industry in this country. The intent is that this report and its findings will provoke a discussion and help inform communications professionals, individually and collectively, on what next steps the industry should take to build sustainability into their work into 2022. For professionals working within these industries, find out how to get involved here.
Public Relations Practitioners Sustainability Communications Resource Guide
This guide was released in September 2023 and is supported by Purpose Disruptors (mentioned above), the PRII, and PRCA. It is a working document created by PR communicators working towards IPCC’s global warming target. Here you will find a clear overview of sustainability communications, the role PR can play in the climate crisis, and useful tools and resources.
Radley Yeldar ‘Words that Work’
This data-led UK consultancy has been conducting research over the last few years into the most effective language to use in sustainability communications (and the cliché’s to avoid!). Here, you will find an on-demand webinar, access to the research report and guides for developing the tips for specific writing purposes e.g. Annual Reports
Spunout.ie
Ireland’s youth information website has great youth-focussed climate action content as this article details.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. Its reports are verified and form the basis of government-level discussions and policies globally, so its library of resources is well worth checking out. Its Synthesis report, is a summary of the most recent sixth assessment report and has a 10-page overview aimed at policy-makers, followed by a 500-page detailed report.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Find out more about each of the 17 goals, that “provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future”. Learn about the goals in-depth and access free collateral to use in promotional and communication-based activity. The resource can be accessed here.
Voice Ireland
VOICE (Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment) is a member-based Irish environmental charity that empowers individuals and local communities to take positive action to conserve our natural resources. VOICE is the NGO expert in Ireland on waste reduction and circular economy, and of its many achievements was responsible for helping to introduce the Plastic Bag Tax via lobbying in 2001. Visit its website here.
SPECIFIC GUIDES
Looking for something specific? We’ve pulled some additional resources that might be useful:
VERIFIED CLIMATE RESEARCH
ESRI – Climate Change section
Maynooth University, The Irish Climate Analysis and Research Unit (ICARUS)
University College Cork & Environmental Research Institute, Climate Ireland. Visit its virtual library to access reports on specific issues
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – list of publications and reports can be found here.
IPCC - The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. Its reports are verified and form the basis of government-level discussions and policies globally.
DIGITAL FOOTPRINT 101
What is a digital footprint? This article explains the breakdown of carbon in email and files, and how to reduce carbon emissions
Website Carbon - Calculate the carbon emissions of your website, the results of which are equated to tangible quantities. This site gives simple, actionable tips to improve the carbon-measure of your website.
EDUCATION/YOUTH FOCUSED ORGANISATIONS
National Youth Council of Ireland – Future Generations Climate Justice project
EcoUnesco - A leading environmental education and youth organisation working to channel the passion, creativity and energy of young people into positive environmental action. Find out more about its programmes here.
FOOD/AGRI-FOOD ORGANISATIONS/RESOURCES
Food Vision 2030 - a landmark for the Irish agri-food sector and has the potential to further enhance the agriculture, food, forestry and marine sectors in the period to 2030. Food Vision 2030 sets out an ambitious pathway to sustainability in all its dimensions – environmental, economic and social.