Most professionals believe that against the background of the intensification of the global economic crisis and the decelerated growth of the economy, promoting the development of a low carbon economy and green industry is an important opportunity to stimulate the recovery of the global economy. Relevant officials from China also think that low carbon development is an inevitable choice for China to control greenhouse gas emission during its urbanization and industrialization process. As journalists, can we grasp opportunities to report on conditions of this realistically? When we make reports on the economic value produced by the application of carbon capture into power generation and the risks of global warming caused by freezing medium, how could you give your reports strong readability? This is a difficult task, but it is possible.

In order to provide live materials and reporting guidance for the media to describe climate change and development of low carbon city, we held the Workshop: “Climate Change and Health” in Power Valley Jinjiang International Hotel in Baoding during the period of March 23-24,2009. Tim Radford, the retired senior environment journalist who had worked at the Guardian for 32 years as the editor of the science column (he won the “Annual Scientific Writers’ Awards” four times and once worked for the UK Commission of International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction) and Hu Xiulian, researcher of the Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission provided on-the-spot help and guidance for participants. Participants also visited solar energy facilities at Baoding Power Valley Jinjiang International Hotel and a low carbon city development project in Baoding High-tech Industry Development Zone.

This activity is part of the two-year “Climate Cool” program jointly hosted by China Science and Technology Exchange Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy. Science and Development Network was the co-host. BHP Billiton, the largest diversified resource company and sponsor of minerals and medals for the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, is the sponsor of this activity.

This activity was also held in Hangzhou (on March 26), Chongqing (on March 27-28) and Guangzhou on (March 29).

Please refer to courseware (March 24 morning and afternoon) and Schedule of the Workshop for detailed information.