How non-profit organisations are highlighting sustainability

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash - The climate lawsuits against the Dutch State by Urgenda and against Shell by Milieudefensie are powerful examples of how non-profit organisations can force changes to climate policy. The visibility of these lawsuits in the public debate also influences the opinions of many citizens. It's no longer the question who is responsible for the consequences of climate change: this is now a legally established fact. Communication scientist Anke Wonneberger is researching how non-profit organisations are highlighting the issue of sustainability with their campaigns, and what is possible in this area. Communication is an essential precondition for tackling the consequences of climate change and gaining broad support for this, says communication scientist Anke Wonneberger. In order to understand what direction we should take as society and what solutions will or will not work, we need to know which actors adopt which positions in the public debate. What are the arguments for which they seek and receive support? 'Since large non-profit organisations such as environmental organisations are often catalysts for social changes and are growing ever stronger in their ability to communicate, they play a very interesting role in this area', says Wonneberger.