The climate crisis is perceived to be a multidimensional challenge, significantly compounded by a crisis of communication in this age of information overload. Therefore, numerous research studies suggest that robust climate communication is immensely crucial for effective engagement with citizens and stakeholders, media framing, and building a strong and positive narrative for climate change and its devastating impacts on the planet and its habitat. Thus, the climate crisis no longer remains just an environmental issue; it instead becomes an increasingly serious crisis of communication that needs to be dealt with a new mindset.

Furthermore, the ideological polarisation can distort public perception of the climate crisis and further amplify the misconceptions about the climate risks, playing down the urgency of the response required to address the issues of climate change (Chu & Yang,2020). Likewise, Tohidi et al. (2025) posit that effective communication strategies need to be developed not only to penetrate the ideological echo chambers but also to foster a stronger understanding and deeper engagement of the diverse audience.     

This brings the role of the media into the spotlight. The fast-evolving media landscape has contributed to the complexities of effectively communicating about climate change and the requisite action needed to address the challenges (Moser, 2016). Furthermore, Vu et al. (2020) have investigated how some of the international NGOs have leveraged social media to positively frame their narrative about climate change and thus significantly influenced public perception. This necessitates a new approach and a nuanced understanding of the value of a robust information-sharing mechanism that considers the public’s psychological and emotional responses towards data related to the climate crisis.

Therefore, a positive message framing can maximise audience engagement and mobilise the much-needed public support. The idea of linking climate change to health hazards can shape a new public discourse and immediately portray it as a public health issue, not merely an environmental challenge, calling for urgent action in line with a pro-environment attitude (Maibach et al., 2010; Li & SU, 2018).  

It is also reassuring to note that a proactive crisis communication strategy also aligns with the UN’s ‘Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’, especially its first two of the seven targets: ‘Substantially reduce disaster mortality by 2030 (Target A) and  Substantially reduce the number of affected people by disasters by 2030 (Target B).

Thus, it necessitates building an engaging moot point, whether the climate crisis is a communication crisis. The proposed debate will focus on two key questions: a) What are the major barriers and challenges faced by leaders while advocating for the climate crisis? How
can climate leaders build a strong narrative for the climate crisis, amplifying its impacts on public health?

Hence, this online session on the subject will facilitate an exciting debate on the above proposition by engaging with the audience and climate champions from around the world, mirroring parliamentary debates.

The debate will be held in two rounds. We will register the names of six participants by showcasing the event banners and brochures on ADN social media platforms, who want to speak in favor of or against the proposition. This will make two teams of three participants each, chosen from the participants ahead of the session. One team will speak for the proposition while the other will oppose it.

In the first round, participants from both sides will speak for 10 minutes each to present their arguments. The chair will determine the best two speakers, one from each team. In the second round, one of the two winners will act as the leader of the house (supporting the topic) while the other will act as the leader of the opposition (opposing the proposition).

The second round will last 10 minutes. The chair will decide the winner and the runner-up by soliciting votes from the audience joining in person and online. The winning team will be rewarded with merit certificates by ADN.

This will take the debate to its second part, wherein the three technical experts and panel speakers will share their informed insights both for and against the topic. The chair will moderate the debate, allowing all the speakers/experts five minutes each to contribute to further developing the debate.

Lastly, the debate will be declared open for taking questions from the participants joining online from around the world.  

The objectives of this session include:

1) To identify and highlight barriers and challenges to communication faced by climate leaders while advocating for the climate crisis

2) To maximize the significance of proactive communication strategies in building a strong narrative for climate change/crisis.

3) To enhance awareness about avoidable disaster deaths among the audience as well as the organizers.

4) The innovative idea of an engaging debate offers a unique opportunity for the audience and the organizers to learn from each other.

5) To provide a vibrant platform for communication experts, crisis leaders, NGOs, students, academics, and researchers to share their informed insights about disaster deaths and crisis communication.

6) To discuss and deliberate about the scope and significance of crisis communication as an effective component of anticipatory action and  crisis preparedness to significantly reduce the number of avoidable deaths and people affected by disasters by 2030;

7) It is pertinent to highlight that ADN is part of the Sendai Framework’s Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) Platform. Our Voluntary Commitments to the UNDRR are inked until 2030, especially focusing on the first two targets of the Sendai Framework. Therefore, this session promises an opportunity to not only manifest our commitments to the UNDRR but also maximize the visibility of our continued
endeavors at the UNOCHA’s Summit in Geneva; and 

8) Above all, this interesting and innovative debate seeks to promote awareness and enhance knowledge about the theory and practice related to crisis communication strategies as an effective tool for crisis preparedness, thus mitigating the impacts of climate change and building a strong narrative for the climate crisis.