Climate Correspondents

Imelda Abano, President, Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists Inc., Philippines
Gustavo Faleires, Environmental Journalist and Knight Fellow, Brazil
Lican Liu, Water Director, Greenovation Hub, China
Michael Simire, Deputy Editor, Sunday Independent, Nigeria

In a warming world, developing countries are being hit hard by drought, storms and sea level rise. Their effort to develop energy resources is increasingly complicated by a choice between cheap fossil fuels and more expensive clean energy. With political strife and economic woes often taking precedence over environmental issues, journalists, in partnership with Internews' Earth Journalism Network, are stepping up to fill the information gap and tell the stories of climate change. Join journalists representing Brazil, China, Nigeria and the Philippines for an in-depth conversation on the trials and triumphs of environmental journalism in the developing world.

Part II: Warrior Writers

Bill McKibben, Founder, 350.org; Author, Eaarth: Making A Life on a Tough New Planet

Antonia Juhasz, Author, Black Tide; Investigative Reporting Program, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

The urgency of the climate crisis has compelled writers such as Bill McKibben and Antonia Juhasz to cross the line into advocacy. That may cause advocates to cheer but can also turn away readers who discount partisans. Advocates contend that the urgency of climate science requires strong and swift action but that the abundance of facts are not mobilizing people or politicians fast enough. Storytelling is one way to reach people not impressed by complex facts about a topic as confusing as carbon pollution.

How can reporting on energy, presented as opportunity or catastrophic risk, compete against grumpy cat memes and economic woes? Is there a secret to breaking through the flood of information to make a meaningful impression on the public? Join us for a discussion with two of the environmental movement’s leading communicators.

Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5 p.m. check-in, 5:30 p.m. Climate Correspondents program, 6:30 p.m. intermission with networking reception, 7 p.m. Warrior Writers program
Cost: $30 non-members, $15 members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Also know: The speakers and audience will be videotaped for future broadcast on the Climate One TV show on KRCB TV 22 on Comcast and DirecTV. Photo by linh.m.do/Flickr.