Science Policy Communications Dialogue: Advancing Clean Air and Climate Action

Why this dialogue, now

The evidence on air pollution is no longer in question. Its impacts on health, climate, and economic development are well established, and the benefits of integrated clean air and climate action are increasingly clear. Yet progress remains uneven. Policy ambition often fails to translate into delivery, investment falls short of what the evidence justifies, and public engagement remains fragile, particularly where climate change and air pollution continue to be addressed in isolation.

This gap is not primarily scientific or technical. It reflects how evidence is interpreted, communicated, and acted upon.

The Science–Policy–Communications Dialogue, convened by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) alongside the Better Air Quality (BAQ) Conference, responds directly to this challenge. It brings together scientists, policymakers, financiers, and creative communications professionals to examine how clean air and climate evidence can be framed in ways that support political decision-making, mobilise investment, and enable implementation at scale.

Description

This dynamic dialogue convenes the Better Air Quality (BAQ) and Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) science and policymaking community with communication, storytelling, design, journalism, and the arts to explore how evidence on air pollution and climate change is translated into public narratives and policy-relevant messages.

Building on the CCAC’s established science–policy dialogue series, the event deliberately engages communicators, storytellers, designers, journalists, and artists alongside scientists, policymakers, funders, and practitioners to explore how evidence, narrative, and creativity can work together to accelerate progress on clean air and climate.

The dialogue creates a shared space to exchange knowledge and perspectives, examine where current air pollution narratives succeed or fall short, and identify the gaps between evidence, public understanding, and policy action. Through plenary discussions and interactive breakout sessions, participants will develop concrete ideas for collaboration, communication, and action—highlighting how the CCAC and BAQ communities can partner with creatives to turn air quality science and policy into compelling stories that mobilise support and deliver real-world impact.

Event Outline

The dialogue will open with two plenary sessions combining short presentations and moderated discussion. Initial presentations by scientists and policymakers will be delivered from the podium, followed by a conversational segment in which two to three creative practitioners join presenters at the front of the room in an interview or panel-style format. During this moderated exchange, the creatives will reflect on the scientific and policy examples presented, ask questions, and begin to workshop ideas and approaches for addressing the communication and action challenges highlighted. This format is designed to establish a shared language, surface early insights, and set an interactive tone for the remainder of the event.

Following the plenary sessions, participants will divide into breakout group discussions organised as facilitated roundtables. These sessions will prioritise face-to-face engagement among creatives, funders, policymakers, and scientists, with each group including a moderator, a note taker, rapporteur, and representation from across these communities. Participants will be invited to brainstorm innovative ideas, partnerships, and solutions that could be supported and advanced by the CCAC and BAQ communities.

The dialogue will conclude with a final plenary session focused on synthesis and reflection. Rapporteurs from each breakout group will report back on the main insights, ideas, and proposed next steps emerging from their discussions. A moderated exchange with the full audience will then draw connections across the breakout sessions, invite additional reflections, and identify opportunities for continued collaboration. The closing session will reinforce shared priorities and leave participants with a clear sense of how the ideas generated during the dialogue can translate into concrete action and ongoing engagement.

Agenda