Climate in the media

The various climate changes do not affect all countries or parts of the world in a similar way, and there are therefore also major differences in the effect of climate change for the individual human being. The media are well aware of that and many news services the world over report on this issue in great detail, but there are major differences in the way in which they do it.

The Internet provides the opportunity to watch TV, use encyclopaedia, take part in debates, listen to the radio and much more. The issue of climate change is covered differently according to the medium.

Portals on climate change

Many news services, GOs, NGOs, etc. have chosen to set up a portal, in which they offer their best bid as to the reasons of climate change as well as what it would take to solve the issue.

The portals may reflect political messages and may choose to portray the issue from a political or scientific perspective.

• The BBC from Great Britain has a climate portal
  Click here to open the BBC's climate portal.
  
  
• The CNN from the USA has a climate portal
  Click here to open CNN's climate portal 
  
  
• The ABC from Australia has a climate portal
  Click here to open ABC's climate portal 
  
  
• NASA from the USA has a climate portal
  Click here to open NASA'a climate portal 
  
  
• The EU has a climate portal
  Click here to open EU's climate portal
  

Videos and podcasts

The Internet is the preferred medium for getting a message distributed quickly. A YouTube video can be uploaded today in Australia and be viewed seconds later in Russia or Ecuador. It has become standard for the media of our time to have an Internet section with anything from the printed medium (if applicable) – and then so much more.

All forms of media, ranging from newspapers and NGOs to television stations and internal organisations, have set up video channels on for instance YouTube.

The video – mixing pictures and sound – provides a new angle on the communication of the material that you want to bring to the attention of a wider audience. 

A few examples:

Disclaimer: In our opinion, links to and pages from YouTube are brought in accordance with the site owner’s rules. However, in the event of any copyright issues, please contact the EMU editor (e-mail address at the bottom of the page) or the EMU editorial department: info@emu.dk.

The EU has produced a video (see below) presenting the many changes that will occur for ordinary people in the various countries.

The World Bank: Climate change in Asia

The play list (several videos) below from YouTube shows the effect of climate change in the various countries in Asia, e.g. Indonesia, Nepal, Mongolia and India.

See also this video on Youtube on climate change in Africa from the COP14 meeting.
Click here to see the video from SCC-Vi Agroforestry and True Nature Film on YouTube.

Blogs, wikis and encyclopaedia

On the Net, you have the opportunity to debate issues with other people from all over the world – for instance via blogs.

You also have access to a wide range of encyclopaedia and you can cooperate with people from other parts of the world on a wiki. In short, the Internet provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to take part in debates and share our opinions with others.

A few examples:

• The COP15 blogs on climate change
  Click here to open the COP15 weblog 
  
  
• RealClimate.org (scientists)
  Click here to open RealClimate.org weblog
  
  
• Climate Ark (private individual)
  Click here to open the Climate Ark weblog 

Wikis and encyclopaedia on climate change

Read about climate cange on Wikipedia
Click here to read about climate change on wikipedia

Read about climate change on wikibooks
Click here to read about climate change on Wikibooks 

Picture series on climate change

Many shows on Flickr, for instance
Click here to try a climate change search on Flickr
Otherwise try a straightforward search on a search engine using the words “climate change pictures”.

COP15 on Flickr
Click here to open COP15's area on Flickr. 

Teacher’s notes

The various media show different aspects of the climate change issue.

Let the pupils work with some of the following problems:

• Make a comparison between living in the USA and Asia
  How come climate change affects these parts of the world so differently?
  
  
• Compare the media coverage in the two different parts of the world
  Describe the differences and similarities in the coverage of climate change. Find, for instance, online editions of newspapers from selected parts of the different countries and compare their coverage of climate change.
  
  

Do an online quiz on climate change in different parts of the world.
Be advised that this theme that specifically discusses views about climate politics expressed by different interests.

• Climate change – what you can do
  Click here to open the quiz Climate change – what you can do
  
  
• A science quiz from Australia
  Click here to open the science quiz (from Australia)
  
  
• An eco quiz
  Click here to open the ECO quiz from Ecokids

In addition, it can be a very good idea to invite external people into the classroom to share their knowledge – e.g. people from environmental organisations, government officials or others.

Browse the your thoughts on climate changes on the COP15 website!
Click here to read the famous thoughts or share your own climate thoughts with the world.