3 steps to communicating your climate strategy at COP27 Egypt

What is COP27 Egypt?

Egypt will host the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from November 6th to 18th, 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh. The goal of this event is to bring various countries together from all around the globe to take action towards achieving the world’s collective climate goals, as agreed upon under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

This event will look to accelerate global climate action within all countries in attendance through their combined efforts within emissions reductions, increased adaptation efforts, and increased flows of appropriate finance. These efforts will continue to build on previous successes, paving the way for the future ambition to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change.

What is the purpose of COP27?

The COP is a key occasion in adopting new worldwide legislation to combat climate change. It gave birth to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. Each COP has its own vision and goal, which it adds to that of its predecessors.

COP27 in Egypt will have discussions that cover an array of climate topics including how to further lower the world's carbon footprint, CO2 and methane reduction, and discussions about how resource distribution from wealthy nations may support other countries who are in need in order to help with universal climate change action. The nations that signed the UNFCCC international environmental treaty to combat "dangerous human interference with the climate system" in part by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, will be present at the event.

How can you effectively communicate your climate strategy at COP27?

In order to allow your company to stand out and make impact in coordination with COP27, your organisation’s climate change communications need to be clear and concise about the impacts you are making. There are many complex factors that impact how we communicate the climate crisis, but one simple element that is often overlooked is the communications strategy itself.

The importance of your ESG credentials at this event is what will highlight your company’s actions in this space. Through increased regulation, heightened focus from investors, and a demonstrable impact on an organisation’s bottom line, there is no other choice than to have a strategy for your COP27 ESG communications efforts to ensure they are not overlooked, or worse, look like an attempt at greenwashing as they do not fit with your brand positioning or tone effectively.

As an organisation, putting clarity at the heart of your communications is no longer a nice-to-have. The language used to communicate your ESG efforts is an even bigger concern when an organisation is in an industry that is already challenging for a consumer to understand due to its use of industry jargon, enhanced regulation, misinformation, or a general lack of trust in the category, such as financial services. For communicators operating in complex categories, even more attention must be placed on the clarity of their messaging and ensuring that no vital information gets lost in translation.

3 ways to communicate your climate efforts for COP27

The below are three ways you can ensure that your organisation achieves greater clarity in your climate communications strategy leading up to, and during, COP27 Egypt:

1. Cut the jargon

Issues related to the environmental crisis are naturally complex and lacking a clear narrative, with many conflicting factors. One of the most significant causes of inertia, or a lack of action, is an absence of clear information. Too much of climate inaction is caused by not understanding the latest data or jargon surrounding the ever-changing issue of the environmental crisis. Instead, choose communication that speaks to the ESG impacts you are making while at the same time in a manner that respects your brand tone and positioning. Your brand and ESG strategies do not have to be mutually exclusive in order to be effective. 

Sharing and posting on-site live content from COP27 in real-time can be an effective way to achieve this.

2.  Consult your employees

If you’re unsure of the clarity of your communications and your value positioning leading into COP27, a simple way to assess this is to test it with internal stakeholders. How can they help your organisation’s COP27 message achieve greater clarity? This has a dual benefit of empowering all colleagues to better understand and communicate your organisation’s environmental commitments, ensuring greater levels of ESG integration and making your attendance an even greater success.

Try hosting an internal focus group to identify whether the key messages of your COP27 ESG communications strategy are understood and update your messaging accordingly.

3.   Think wider than your most popular demographic

Climate change has a global audience, even if your business doesn’t yet, and an organisations communications need to reflect this. An innovative climate action communications strategy can not only help the planet but can grow brand awareness and engagement with your organisation’s story leading to commercial opportunities. Being a disruptor or game changer in your space could attract an international audience you never expected, especially within your attendance at COP27, but poorly translated communications can prevent this captive audience from becoming loyal customers. Continually monitoring the reach of your ESG communications plan and seeking translation where appropriate is a worthy investment.

The more people that are informed about the climate crisis, the greater chance you have to coordinate collective efforts in protection of the future of our planet and growing your business simultaneously. What translated content do you need leading up to, on-site, and post COP27 to connect to new customers? Make sure you are prepared to speak to your global audience effectively. 

In regard to your attendance and communication efforts for COP27, the age of inaccessibility when it comes to climate communications is over. ESG communications must always seek to empower your customers through high levels of clarity in every piece of language you release so customers can translate your commitments into their own actions.

In the same way that a great idea can be cannibalised by poor execution, the most important Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) communications can come undone because of poor or insufficient language. At Communique we can help you execute your communications effectively to avoid this and attain your goals.