Book launch: Carbon Capitalism and Communication
309 Regent St
Marylebone, London W1B 2HT
UK
The CAMRI Policy Observatory is pleased to invite you to the panel discussion and book launch of Carbon Capitalism and Communication, Confronting Climate Crisis edited by Benedetta Brevini and Graham Murdock.
Ever-increasing evidence for global climate change caused by human activities has led to mounting consensus that we are likely to face a continuing and intensifying climate crisis: 2017 was the hottest year since global records began and 90% of this temperature increase was caused by the high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, levels not seen for 4 million years.
This event brings together media policy experts, scholars and activists to discuss the central role of communication in environmental debates. It will shed light on how communication systems are playing a central role in this climate crisis: Firstly, as the major spaces of public representation and debate they are the key agencies organising, and disorganising, public understanding of causes, consequences, and possible solutions. Secondly, as predominantly commercial enterprises dependent on advertising revenues they actively promote an ideology of accelerated consumerism that sustains the ecologically destructive pursuit of economic growth. Thirdly, as assemblies of machines and infrastructures they deplete scarce resources in their production, consume increasing amounts of energy in their use, and exacerbate problems of waste and disposal. Fourthly, in their ‘alternative’ and oppositional forms they play important roles in organising and sustaining opposition, protest and resistance and in securing support for ecologically supporting sustainable practices.
Chair:
Steven Barnett, Professor of Communication, University of Westminster
Panellists:
Benedetta Brevini, Senior Lecturer in Communication and Media, University of Sydney
Graham Murdock, Professor of Culture and Economy at the Department of Social Sciences at Loughborough University
Danielle Paffard, UK Divestment Campaigner for 350.org
Richard Black, Director Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit
About the book:
Carbon Capitalism and Communication, Confronting Climate Crisis is edited by Benedetta Brevini and Graham Murdock and published by Palgrave Macmillan. Authors include Naomi Klein, Michael Mann, Alan Rusbridger, Blair Palese (350.org) and David Ritter (Greenpeace).
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