Promoting climate change awareness

 The environment of regional and international security as well as crisis management has been confronted with a number of difficulties as a result of the emergence of unconventional threats.

Communications during climate-driven events have become even more crucial for influencing stakeholders in light of threats like climate change. Without jeopardizing the state's strategic objectives, climate-related facts, messages, actions, and policies must be communicated to audiences domestically and internationally. The development of climate change strategic communications (StratComm) is essential.

"The use of words, actions, images, or symbols to influence the attitudes and opinions of target audiences to shape their behavior in order to advance interests or policies, or to achieve objectives" is the definition of strategic communications, according to communications expert James Farwell. If we accept that everything communicates, the state's words, actions, and images all have a strategic impact on audience perceptions, decision-making, and response to a particular crisis or disaster on a national and international scale.

Both the strategic objectives and the national strategy are influenced by audience responses. A state must adopt a strategic approach to communications that is based on coordinated efforts from all relevant government sectors in order to anticipate audience response that is in line with strategic objectives.

Media communications and strategic communications are distinct concepts. Instead, it makes information more accessible to a wider audience. Ideally, climate change StratComm should include messages and a compelling strategic narrative that are compatible with strategic objectives and able to connect with the general public.

Strategic narratives are "deliberately designed and nurtured by political elites with the intent of provoking a particular feeling or opinion and thus facilitating distinct policy initiatives," according to a history professor in the Netherlands named Beatrice De Graaf. The way Pakistan's people see climate-driven events ought to be the focus of its strategic climate narrative.

Following the floods in 2022, which were primarily caused by climate change, Pakistan's demand for climate justice fits into these strategic narrative and StartComm frameworks. The climate justice demand serves as a reminder to wealthy GHG emitters of their obligation to pay for their part in alleviating the suffering of vulnerable states and demonstrates the frustration of states with low greenhouse gas (GHG) contributions to climate change.

More than $10 billion in flood recovery commitments have been obtained from various donors through the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan, which was co-hosted in Geneva by the Pakistani government and the United Nations. The promises have not yet been fulfilled. This suggests that Pakistan is making progress toward the broader objective of climate justice.

The information and message conveyed during StratComm must support and complement national strategic objectives in addition to creating a narrative. To determine whether climate change StratComm is complementary, two instances are required. First, while Pakistan was vice-chairing the COP27 summit, it vehemently demanded that "historic injustices" be rectified. In addition, in his request for climate justice, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif correctly avoided terms like rescheduling and reparations.

It is admirable that Pakistan supported its climate justice narrative at COP27. Additionally, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a reorganization of global finance to assist developing nations in rebuilding after climate-related disasters. Pakistan's communications on climate change in Nationally Determined Contributions 2021 are an exaggerated plea for international funding and support.

To achieve its ambitious goal of halving its GHG emissions by 2030, the nation absolutely needs international funding for mitigation and adaptation. Implementing the Protected Areas Initiative, planting trees, reducing carbon emissions by switching to 60% renewable energy and 30% electric transportation by 2030, and outlawing coal are among these goals.

However, the achievement of these goals requires financing from both domestic and foreign sources (15 percent). The overall investment environment must be improved in order to attract international funding. On the other hand, Pakistan's image can be effectively built through strategic communications that support the climate justice narrative and Pakistan's search for international funding. The prime minister has promised to use the flood aid that was promised at the Geneva conference in a transparent way so far.

Pakistan's first National Security Policy 2022-2026 (NSP 2022-26), which provides a narrow definition of climate change, is the second example used to evaluate StratComm's complementarity. Along with water management and water security, climate change is emphasized in the context of human security. Because it excludes climate-related topics like food security, migration and displacement, health and gender security, and food security, this has a negative impact on the StratComm on climate change. The NSP's exclusion of these dimensions for the years 2022 to 26 demonstrates a lack of anticipation and awareness of the scope of national climate change issues.

The coalition government established the National Flood Response Coordination Center (NFRCC) to address the negative effects of climate change. Its goal is to make sure that state departments and agencies on both the national and international level work together to prepare flood response, rehabilitation, and relief. To avoid information fragmentation, this coordination is necessary. The government has developed the Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (R4F) to enhance its efforts.

The establishment of a connection between the general public and scientific research is a crucial component of climate change StartComm. Scientists are crucial in conveying figures and facts for climate change messaging, which includes scientific data. However, it is difficult to connect scientists with the general public. The approaches to science, beliefs, culture, needs, and interests of audiences vary.

This kind of disconnect occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. More information needs to be shared with a group of people who don't believe in science in order to fix this disconnect. This could defeat StratComm's purpose. Local communities do not necessarily require a campaign to be persuaded about climate change due to the ongoing crisis caused by the phenomenon. Instead, they require instruction in how to deal with these occurrences, how they fit into a larger body of scientific knowledge, and how they will affect their future. To educate the public about their vulnerabilities and management options, it is necessary to communicate across the nation in a manner that is not scientific. In order to improve climate communications in Pakistan, it is essential to build a research pool and increase the media's capacity.

Communications have been elevated to the same level as other strategic means and ends as a result of the altered nature of security threats. In the 21st century, StratComm has gained traction and popularity. A state must approach communications strategically in order to assist managers in becoming proactive, taking control of crisis and disaster situations, and improving crisis and disaster management. Both demilitarization and the inclusion of StratComm are required.