Council in line for award on climate (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Council in line for award on climate

8:03pm Sunday 15th June 2008 in

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Bradford Council has been shortlisted for an award for its innovative climate change awareness campaign which ran last year.

It is one of five local authorities in line for the award which recognises excellence in Public Sector Communications.

The Council's public affairs and communications department is in line for the award after its successful campaign, which was funded by Defra to the tune of £200,000.

It aimed to raise residents' awareness about the small changes that could be made to tackle global warming and climate change.

The campaign used eye-catching artwork designed to reflect the changing seasons, picturing conkers in spring, and a butterfly on a snowball, which featured on billboards across the district.

Postcards depicting the effects of local floods and moor fires were sent out to residents and a climate change guide was produced giving residents more information on how to make a difference.

A number of events were also held last year to raise awareness, including Switch Off Days at Council buildings, a theatre production which toured local primary schools and inviting nursery children to play in snow in Centenary Square.

Research was carried out before, during and after the campaign to check it was having an effect. In the feedback given, 97 per cent of respondents said they had learned something new about climate change.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the executive member for environment and culture, said: "This campaign used striking imagery and creative events to provoke debate and raise awareness of climate change and what we can do to tackle it. More than 5,500 children saw the theatre production and over 1,000 people a month clicked onto our climate change website to find out more. "

The campaign has been shortlisted in the best Public Relations and Mixed Media Campaign category, which recognises where print, television, radio and internet media have combined to achieve the campaign's objectives successfully and cost-effectively. The results will be announced on June 26.