What can Compassion bring to Copenhagen?

Earlier this week, Lasse Bruun represented Compassion at Cambridge University's Copenhagen event on leadership in the face of climate change. The event was themed around how to make real to people the complex issues that are being discussed in the Copenhagen conference. One of the big topics of the night was how to communicate climate change and, more importantly, how to communicate the importance of taking action – now.

Lasse reflected on this, saying "Everyone at the event, including businesses, organisations and government officials, seemed to agree that the discussion of what to do on climate change is often confusing and sometimes fails to reach the general public. How can you begin to ask people to act on climate change and do what is right when the language used is incomprehensible to most people? It became clear to me that those creating real change on the ground could make a lot from the kind of day to day work of campaigning organisations like Compassion. For example, just think if Compassion communicated animal welfare in terms like 'may cause stimulation of the nervous system' instead of 'the animal is in pain'. I am sure that fewer people would understand – let alone react to – the suffering described to them."

Lasse went on to say "Both climate change and animal suffering can be avoided if people make the right choices. They need, however, to be able to make informed choices. Compassion has a key role to play in Copenhagen and beyond, both in talking to policymakers and to everyone else. While we can demonstrate the damage caused by factory farming, the good news is that we also know how we can feed and fuel the world using humane and sustainable methods. With a sound evidence base, clear language and strong leadership we can build a future that meets the needs of animals, people and the planet. That is the message we will keep spreading in Copenhagen."