Climate Communication and Reporting to Internal and External Stakeholders

Communication is crucial both strategically and tactically, externally and internally. It helps an organisation present its efforts to address climate change, embed climate solutions and improve carbon management. Appropriate communications raise awareness and can be used to define and shape action and progress. This chapter explores various options, looking both at internal communications to employees, and how to have conversations with suppliers. It seeks to help managers understand central considerations for climate change communication with suggested methods and content for communications such as storytelling, along with signposting to useful templates. We also look at the use and role of social media in climate change communication and offer guidance on how to ensure it is both informational and influential. Formal communication with external stakeholders is explored via a section on reporting and disclosure. Appropriate presentation of relevant information is growing in importance, not only for reporting purposes, but also with respect to applications for tender, or information requested from one's supply chain. For those mystified by the requirements linked to this, it introduces ESG Book, a new initiative from Anglo-German asset manager, Arabesque Partners. As there are clear links between communications and marketing, and between the contents of this chapter and carbon management, it should be read in conjunction with chapters 9 (Marketing) and 12 (Carbon Accounting).