The effectiveness of climate change communication and information dissemination via the internet: experiences from the online climate conference series

Abstract

Despite the importance of and the need for using internet-based approaches to promote information and raise awareness on climate change, there is a paucity of initiatives which may foster this cause on a long-term basis. This article presents the concept, approaches, methods, experiences and results from an online climate change conference series led by the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg), which, since its inception in 2008, has engaged over one million participants in over 150 countries. Covering a wide range of topics including water use, disasters management, and technologies, the online climate change conferences provide useful insights on matters which may be considered, in ensuring climate change can be successfully communicated via online tools.