Thursday, September 27, 2007

Climate change in the media: Greening the message, but not the medium

From Ethical Corporation:
UK broadcasters offer impressive programmes encouraging us all to be green. But when it comes to addressing their own carbon footprints, they could learn a few lessons from their shows, argues Andrew Greener.
(talk about an occuponymous name)

The global TV industry is uniquely placed to influence public opinion on the environment. As such, it has a duty and a responsibility to raise awareness of climate change, to inform, and to promote debate.

Fortunately, the industry is rising to the challenge, and 2007 has seen the largest yet amount of ‘green’ programming across the networks.

The most dedicated channel is Green TV, a broadband TV channel streaming environmental films from around the world that includes partners like the United Nations Environment Programme, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace....

...Studio setbacks

But, ironically, these laudable efforts to bring green issues to our screens are undermined by the point of delivery, or TV sets themselves.

Whereas in the 50’s and 60’s a television set was the single electrical appliance, this is now likely to be augmented by the set top box, DVD player, and the 5:1 surround sound system. Then there is the environmental cost of producing programmes and films....MORE