The Climate Change Media Award Scheme is part of the large scale series of “Climate Cool” events jointly held by China Science and Technology Exchange Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology and us. With the purpose of increasing media understanding of climate change and improving reporting level, it is a professional competition for media workers such as journalists and editors as well as graduate students who wish to be engaged in journalism and communications. This activity started in 2007, and up to now, there have been 15 winners who are granted the opportunity of a field study tour in the UK. During their visit to England, winners interviewed both relevant ministers and officials from the British Government and experts on climate change. Besides this, they also visited some environmentally-friendly enterprises and organizations.

The 2009 Climate Change Media Award Scheme formally commenced on June 5. Its theme was “to change the earth’s future by today’s action”. Competition categories included print media, broadcast & television and online media, and the jury panel was composed of UK and Chinese scientists, senior media professionals and governmental officials. Winners of this activity were funded by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy to participate in and report on the Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference. They also had opportunities to visit climate and environmental science research institutions, scientific projects and famous scientific and technological medias.