Climate breakdown is one of the most serious issues of our time.

As communicators, we know that words matter. The pen is mightier than the sword, and our industries hold great influence over the messages that reach the public and the projects that gain social licence.

We craft, promote, sell and place messages, both written and visual, that are seen by millions and help to shape our culture, values and future. Collectively, we have great power, and we need to use it wisely.

For too long our industries have been helping companies that produce greenhouse gas pollution by furthering their interests and protecting their reputations.

To have any chance of reaching net zero, communicators must be aware, declare and act.

For more on how communicators can make a difference, read: How conversations and messaging can help transform the world

After signing the pledge, you can be involved as little or as much as you like.

If you have limited time, you can simply sign the ‘Declare’ pledge that your work won’t support any activities, organisations or individuals that promote the continuation of high greenhouse gas pollution or deception around science or climate actions.

DECLARING is powerful as it helps to demonstrate there are many people in our industries who recognise the gravity of the climate situation and are actively choosing not to contribute to it through their work. This puts moral pressure on those choosing otherwise and encourages them to re-evaluate.

Declare now.

There are two pledge options – Declare and Act – to recognise the different ways people are able to contribute. You can choose either option, or both.

Declare

I declare my work as a communicator will not support any activities, organisations or individuals that promote:

• the growth of fossil fuels
• the continuation of high greenhouse gas pollution as ‘business as usual’
• deception, distraction or spin around science or climate actions.

Act

I will:

• Actively raise awareness of the climate emergency and the urgent need for action
• Share stories of success as individuals, organisations, and governments make positive climate choices, building hope and optimism in our collective ability to provide a healthy, liveable planet for future generations
• Encourage others to sign the Communicators Declare pledge
• Reduce my carbon footprint and live a more sustainable life.

There are many grey areas but at Comms Declare, we draw the line at promoting the growth of fossil fuels or treating high greenhouse gas pollution as ‘business as usual’. 

On the other hand, we celebrate positive climate action by companies truly committed to change.

To help make it clearer, here are five examples of work Comms Declare should avoid:

• Doing crisis communications for a lobby group whose policies/agenda are not in line with the Paris Agreement (eg Minerals Council of Australia)
• Accepting sponsorship or advertising from a company or organisation that promotes fossil fuels
• Providing graphic design services for a frequent flyers campaign that promotes more air travel
• Conducting digital marketing services for a company that is providing equipment to a new thermal coal mine
• Providing false equivalence of the views of climate deniers compared with climate scientists.

Prefer

• Advertising a sustainable mining conference for those genuinely taking measurable and transparent steps to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in line with the Paris goals
• Providing media relations services for a vehicle manufacturer which is making proven steps to become carbon neutral
• Strategising messaging for a grocery store chain that is reducing plastic and organic waste and has a strong renewable energy target
• Writing web copy for a business that does not rely on increasing its carbon footprint to increase or maintain profits
• Producing social media content on a pollution reduction measure by a company that is on track to reach the Paris goals.

Please spread the word amongst your networks and encourage all communication, marketing, media, creative and advertising professionals to join Comms Declare.

If you would like to get more involved, please email us at hello@commsdeclare.org. Comms Declare is run entirely by volunteers and we would love to put your skills to good use.