Media 21 global journalism network training programme - climate change II: understanding solutions

The five-day workshop in Geneva will focus on the three following themes:

I. The humanitarian impact of climate change
II. Offering concrete solutions
III. The role of local and international media

Each workshop day will be divided into two parts:

1. Mornings: interactive group discussions with key experts (one or two panels)
2. Afternoons: individual research, interviews, optional presentations... This will enable participating journalists to conduct their own individual reporting in Geneva and the region. It will also give them the opportunity to broaden their access to relevant international organizations and specialists. Media21 will facilitate these meetings and contacts either individually or as part of small groups.

Sunday, 18 November, 2007
20.00 Welcome buffet at Brega Chic, rue Dizerens 5, bar and restaurant with Media21 staff

Monday, 19 November, 2007
Location: International Environment House, Geneva, Room 3
9.00 – 10.15 WELCOME ADDRESSES: Introductory Remarks: 1. Jean Fabre, deputy director, UNDP, Geneva Office 2. Salvano Briceňo, Director, ISDR, overview on UN actions on climate change and disasters 3. Daniel Pruzin, president, ACANU (association of correspondents accredited to the UN), Geneva overview as a global information resource for journalists. Introduced by Daniel Wermus, Media21 Director.
10.15 – 13.00 ROUNDTABLE 1 – The Facts: The Impact of Climate Change – Where do we stand? The 2007 joint Nobel Peace Award for Al Gore and the IPCC has recognized the need to stimulate public awareness worldwide but also to rely on scientific fact. What are the realities behind climate change today? What are our responsibilities both now and with regard to future generations? How should we advance to-ward more effective solutions?
Panelists: 1. Cecilia Ugaz, coordinator, UNDP Human Development Report (on essential points) 2. IPCC representative 3. Brigitte Leoni, ISDR (on more disasters) 4. Philippe de Rougemont, specialized journalist, Noé21 (tools to tell it in the most simple and effective way) 5. Christiane Maillefer, WWF-Switzerland. Moderator: Edward Girardet, Media21 Programme Director.
13.00-14.00 Lunch (International Environment House Cafeteria)
14.15-17.15 Visit of the Geneva waste management “Les Cheneviers”in the countryside. Remote heating system and Bio gas production. Org: Services Industriels de Genève.

Tuesday, 20 November, 2007
Location: UN Palais des Nations, Room 11
9.00 – 11.20 ROUNDTABLE 2 – Towards sustainable prevention: The economic impact of climate change. Which system can reconcile economic efficiency, ecological sustainability and social needs, locally and globally?
Panelists: 1.Dominic Waughray, World Economic Forum 2. Ralph Baumann, head of environmental markets, Energie Ouest Suisse 3. Claude Martin, former Head, WWF International 4. Robert Stefanski, WMO, Geneva (on food security and water resources). Moderator: Dan O’Brien, senior Editor, The Economist/EIU
11.30-12.30 Briefing on the UNDP Human Development Report, UN Palais des Nations: This is an embargoed background briefing on the UNDP Human Development, focusing on climate change and scheduled for release on November 27, 2007. Report and press material will be provided.
12.45-13.30 Lunch
14.00-15.00 Visit with the Land department of the Canton of Geneva to see the sorting of waste and its recycling for building purposes, understanding of new technology related to environmental issues.
Afternoon: Time allotted for independent reporting, research and interviews.

Wednesday, 21 November, 2007
Location: World Meteorological Organization, Press room/ground floor, 7 avenue de la Paix, Geneva
8.00-9.00 Working breakfast with Michel Jarraud, secretary-general, WMO
9.15-11.45 ROUNDTABLE 3 – Living with the inevitable: Adaptation: the solution? How should so-ciety prepare for climate change? What intervention is needed? How can we move beyond emergency humanitarian responses to longer-term prevention? Who will pay for it? What are the challenges facing developing countries? What effect does it have on conflicts, crises, lack of information, social security….
Panelists: 1. Sylvia Llosa, ISDR focal point for Climate Change 2. Jean-Phillipe Chauzy, International Organization for Migration, Geneva 3. Greg Greenwood, Mountain Research Initiative, Lausanne 4. Maryam Golnaraghi, WMO, Geneva (on disaster risk reduction) 5. Nick van Praag, UNHCR, Geneva. 6. Madeleen Helmer, IFRC. 7. Jenty Kirsch-Wood, OCHA Moderator: Phil Dickie, senior Australian environmental journalist.

12.00- 12.50 Special Presentation on Climate Task Force in the Philippines by Orlando Mercado, broadcaster and political scientist, Manila.
Afternoon: Time allotted for independent reporting, research and interviews.

Thursday, 22 November, 2007
Location: International Environment House II, Geneva, room MIE2
8.45-9.45 Special presentation: Clean Development Mechanisms - can the market clean the planet? By Noé 21 Foundation
10.00-12.00 Challenges of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali (December 3-15, 2007). Roundtable Briefing with Swiss negotiator Ambassador Thomas Kolly.
13.00-14.15 Lunch
14.15-14.45 The Swiss climate policy : Amb. Thomas Kolly
14.45-16.30 ROUNDTABLE 4 – New technologies, energies and behavior? Beyond regulation: Which solutions? Can the market forces and the technologies solve all problems? Are North and South in the same boat? How should civil society, governments and ordinary citizens be involved?
Panelists: 1. John Kidd, IUCN 2. Kija Kummer, World Business Council for Sustainable Development 3. Clement Tolusso, Greenpeace. 4. Alexandre Epalle, Head of Geneva Sustainable development strat-egy 5. Renate Christ,IPCC/ WMO (What is at stake in Bali) Moderator: Michael Luhan, writer.

Friday, 23 November, 2007
Location: Geneva Press Club, 106 route de Ferney (next to Intercontinental Hotel)
8.15–9.15 Informal Breakfast
9.15–13.00 ROUNDTABLE 5 – Role of the Media: The Media: Actor or observer? What responsibili-ties do journalists have for putting across both the challenges and solutions for climate change in an in-formed manner? How are media currently treating this issue? How could credible local and international reporting be improved?
9.15 Introduction: “The state of public opinion on climate change threats – the role of the media”, a study for the UNDP report presented by Jean Fabre, deputy director, UNDP Geneva Office
9.30 Panel 1. Covering the problem – too slow, too shallow? 1. Prof Martin Beniston Climate Change specialist, University of Geneva (until 10.30).2. Christian Campiche, journalist and founder of the “info in danger” initiative 3. Daniel Wermus, InfoSud Press Agency 4. Orlando Mercado, Journalist and political scientist 5. Carine Van Maele, WMO. Moderator: Edward Girardet, Media21
11.15 Panel2. Can media act for change and how? 1. Phil Dickie, Australian environmental journa-list. 2. Jacques Mirenowicz, editor of La Revue durable, Switzerland 3. Jamil Chade, Estado de São Paulo 4. John Kidd, Com+ (consortium of agencies communicating on sustainable development). Moderator: Suren Erkman, journalist and professor at Lausanne University 13.00 Buffet-sandwiches 14.15-15.15 Special presentation: Industrial Ecology as a strategy for sustainable development, by Prof Suren Erkman
Afternoon: Time allotted for independent reporting, research and interviews.

Saturday, 24 November, 2007
Field visit to Joux Valley (110km from Geneva in the Jura Mountains) Visit of the model Zero Energy House, built with energy and cost efficient methods and deliberately located in one of Switzerland’s cold-est regions. The building incorporates its own active and passive solar energy production, thermal insulation, supported – if necessary - by wood heating. The journalists also will visit a distance wood heating system at the nearby village of Le Sentier, a waste collection project producing biogas for the whole region, a dairy farm, plus various other local initiatives for sustainable development.
8.30 Departure from Geneva (coach)
10.00 Arrival at Le Sentier, visits
19.00 Traditional Swiss dinner with local people.

Sunday, 25 November, 2007
10.00 Departure to Geneva.