The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has joined a consortium of organisations from the creative industries to address issues around climate change.
The Advertising Association, working in partnership with ISBA and the IPA, has launched two new groups, following direction from its Council to coordinate full efforts from the industry on Climate Action.
The groups – CASG and the Climate Action Working Group (CAWG) – will be focused on three areas initially:
- The production of a report to measure the UK advertising industry’s current carbon footprint and what businesses are doing to reduce it
- The development of options for more ambitious collective action by the industry, particularly in encouraging an increasing presence of more sustainable products, services, messaging and behaviours in advertising
- Supporting the ASA’s plan for exploring the role that advertising regulation can play in response to concerns around climate change and the human impact on the environment
The Climate Action Steering Group, chaired by Advertising Association Vice Chair, Sebastian Munden, EVP and General Manger, Unilever UK & Ireland is comprised of representatives of all the major companies and organisations in the industry, including the Marketing Society and The Marketing Academy.
From March, the group will focus on driving initiatives to meet the industry’s goals, as legislated by the UK Government, across every part of the marketing, media, and advertising communities.
Stephen Woodford, Chief Executive, Advertising Association, said: “We are clear on the role we want our industry to play in helping the UK economy move as fast as it can to Net Zero. Advertising accelerates behaviour change and can be a real force for helping drive sustainable growth and social good.
“We saw this happening in 2019 with fantastic initiatives like #ChangeTheBrief. With ideas like this and many, many more, we have the opportunity to make a massive impact through the right action over the years ahead of us.”
Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, said: “Public relations and communications professionals have the power to shape public consciousness on climate change. But we also have a responsibility to ensure our own organisations operate responsibly. Our industry can make a genuine impact on this issue. As the world’s largest PR membership body, the PRCA is proud to be joining the Advertising Association’s new initiative.”
Those interested in the industry’s work around Climate Action should contact the Advertising Association at climate@adassoc.org.uk.
The initiatives follows the launch of the PRCA’s new B-Corp Group on 23rd January.
