The Browning Brief: 6 Environmental Communications Trends for 2023

As we get closer to breaching 1.5C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, environmental communications are more important than ever to inspire ambition and accelerate the action that will urgently mitigate the climate crisis and deliver a sustainable future for all.  

Browning Environmental Communications, the world’s number one agency for environmental #sustainability #communications, has identified six key trends to watch out for in 2023.  

1. Going beyond Green-hush 

According to a report published by South Pole and supported by BEC, public concern about #greenwash and the dramatic rise in litigation by campaign groups and governments has seen companies limit their communications on their environmental activity to avoid scrutiny — a practice called green-hushing.  

In 2023, we expect there will be more guidance from the UN, the SEC, and the European Commission on how companies are expected to communicate on the transition, which may ease concerns.  

But pitfalls will remain. Some of the environmental targets companies have agreed to are almost impossible to deliver and they may be reticent to publicly share if they’ve fallen short.  

Communicating success on climate action has never been more challenging. BEC is running a roundtable at the Communications Summit at Greenbiz in Arizona in 2 weeks to address this very issue. 

2. Competing in different worlds 

In #ClimateChange, we are highly aware of geopolitics. When the US and China come together, the mood palpably changes at the climate talks. Will they increase their collaboration in 2023?

It doesn’t look likely. Instead, we see more and more inter-country competition.  

Countries in the Middle East are spending vast fortunes seeking to out-compete one another for climate glory. Meanwhile the #InflationReductionAct may be about to spark a subsidy race with Europe. In the US, there has never been a better time to raise capital. In every segment of the transition, there is tons of competition.  

Despite the fracturing in the global economy, 2023 is going to be a year of intense competition in climate action.  

3. The role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities  

Communicating the knowledge of #IndigenousPeoples and local communities (IPLCs) is critical to combatting climate change. Research has shown that forest ecosystems inhabited by IPLCs have consistently better-preserved biodiversity, water, and other natural resources. Despite this, less than half of the lands and territories claimed by IPLCs are formally recognized by governments, placing their livelihoods at risk, and threatening the safety of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. 

In its 6th Assessment Report, BEC client UN IPCC highlighted how supporting IPLCs “not only strengthens climate leadership in many countries, but also changes broad social norms by raising knowledge of Indigenous governance systems which supported sustainable lifeways over thousands of years.”  

As we work to finance transformative #ClimateAction leading up to 2030, IPLCs living in and protecting vast tropical forests need to be engaged. This year, communications professionals must amplify the voices of IPLCs, supporting inclusion and equity while progressing global climate goals.  

4. Water is going up the agenda 

Climate change is experienced by people most often through #water – either too much or too little.  

Last summer the view from our Bonn office of the dry riverbed of the Rhine was a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change. Much worse were the drought and flooding in Pakistan which led to 1,739 deaths and $14.9 billion in damages. 

BEC has been invited by the World Bank to be a co-convener at this year’s World Water Week. We will be hosting a seminar session on water in communications with world-leading experts, where we will look at how to engage wider audiences with water, and ways to speak accurately and effectively on the topic. 

5. Biodiversity is big… finally!  

2023 will see increasing awareness from companies and investors about their biodiversity-related risks and opportunities. 

After the landmark Global Biodiversity Agreement was finally agreed in Montreal last year, many businesses will now be considering their environmental impact through the lens of #biodiversity.

6. Climate Quitting 

The trend of ‘climate quitting’ is growing, as more people are leaving their jobs to pursue mission-driven careers combating climate change. Encouragingly, clean energy companies now employ more people than fossil fuel companies, but we need even more to join the cause to fight for our planet.  

At BEC we are committed to work exclusively with organizations contributing to genuine environmental improvement. If you want to join, we currently have jobs available!

Find out more on our website: https://browningenvironmental.com/careers/