IPF attended the rendez-vous Climat 2005 conference in Paris

On November 14 and 15 2005, IPF attended the Rendez-vous Climat 2005 conference in Paris. This conference was the 1-year anniversary of the operational plan implemented by France in 2004 to reduce greenhouse effect gas emissions beyond the 2010 Kyoto objectives, and reduce them by a factor 4 by 2050.It is time for action against climate change: what was accomplished over the past year? How well implemented are the government decisions? What actions were started by administration, industry, services, research, regions and citizens?

Five round tables covering transportation, energy, regions, construction and communication took place on the first day. Thierry Touchais was the rapporteur for the latter entitled: "Which actors to reach a climate culture?"

Several action points were proposed calling for immediate implementation, amongst which:

  1. Addressing climate change implies a cultural change, typically a slow process. It should be sped up using political action as an accelerator. Policy makers must show a dedicated commitment over the long term.
  2. Climate change communication should be based on the IPCC reports and findings. Scientific material must be made understandable to a large public: outreach.
  3. TV is a powerful media with very high audience ratings. The weather forecast programs could be a strong educational tool if they broadened their message, provided they clearly point the difference between forecast (short term, 1 week max) and climate (long term, 30 years)
  4. Media cannot only act as a communication channel, they must also show their involvement in the process. Ultimately, a mutual trust relationship must be consolidated between media and readers/viewers, informing beyond immediate facts and stepping out of sensationalism.
  5. NGO's do tackle the issue by raising awareness and comprehension, supported with sensible and visible education and information tools. They need long term access to financial resources with the continuous support of fiscal policies enticing donations and sponsorship.
  6. The State must lead by example.

The general conclusions can be drawn from the Prime Minister's speech, stating that the precautionary principle and progress can move hand in hand, that environment protection is definitely a growth opportunity and must be a key public policy priority, and finally that sustainable development calls for each and everyone to participate actively now.