Public Relations and Sustainability Communication in Municipalities: Challenges and Opportunities for Impact.

Date and Time:
Wednesday, December 11
2 PM (CET)

What to expect from the webinar

This webinar will present the recently established EUPRERA “Public Relations, Social Responsibility & Sustainability” thematic network, and explore the evolving role of Public Relations and Sustainability Communication in supporting municipalities to engage communities, foster trust, and effectively communicate sustainability-related goals and special initiatives. With increasing demands for transparency and the need to address public skepticism around sustainability claims and narratives, municipalities are facing unique communication challenges and opportunities.

The session will feature insights from the thematic network leaders Adalberto Arrigoni, Wim Elving, Catrin Johansson, and Ileana Lis Zeler, who will share their perspectives about the network terms of reference and present two current projects: one relating to Swedish municipalities facing wicked problems through collaboration between communication researchers and professionals in local communities, and one aimed at encouraging sustainable mobility in rural areas in the Netherlands, working co-creatively on a Policy Decision Support System (PDSS) for civil servants with issues regarding support and participation in a sustainable mobility transition.

The webinar will conclude with an interactive Q&A session, inviting attendees to engage with the speakers and discuss how these themes can serve as the foundation for future research.

Join us to deepen your understanding of how PR and Sustainability Communication can drive meaningful impact in municipalities, fostering community resilience and long-term sustainability.

Speakers

Adalberto Arrigoni, Leeds Beckett University, UK
Adalberto Arrigoni is a Senior Lecturer and Subject Research Lead at Leeds Business School, Leeds Beckett University. A Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS), he chairs the Yorkshire Hub of ICRS, promoting regional collaboration on sustainability and social responsibility. As School Lead for PRME, the UN initiative for Responsible Management Education, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Global Responsibility, Adalberto integrates sustainability values into teaching, research, and practice.

Wim J.L. Elving, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Wim J.L. Elving is Professor of Sustainable Communication at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (HUAS) in Groningen, the Netherlands. He is affiliated with EnTranCe, the HUAS Centre of Expertise in Energy, focusing on the energy transition and sustainable societies. His research explores communicative and behavioral interventions for a sustainable future. Author of over 150 publications, including articles, books, and editorials, his expertise spans sustainable communication, corporate communication, CSR, internal communication, and branding. A member of the A.W. Page Society and EUPRERA, he has received EUPRERA’s Distinguished Scholar Award for his contributions to the field.

Catrin Johansson, Mid Sweden University, Sweden
Catrin Johansson is Professor of organizational communication at Mid Sweden University, in Sundsvall, Sweden. She is research leader at DEMICOM research centre, and a member of EUPRERA, ECREA and ICA. Her research focuses on climate change and sustainability communication in local municipalities. Leading innovative research that has major implications for communication practice in organizations, her projects and publications comprise sustainability communication, organizational communication maturity, communicative leadership, crisis leadership and organizational change.

Ileana Zeler, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Ileana Zeler is Ph.D. in Communication. She is Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Audiovisual Communication at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain). With several articles published in international scientific journals and editorials, her research focusses on digital communication, public relations and corporate social responsibility. She is Guest Professor in Spanish, Latin American and European universities. She also is Chair of the Organizational and Strategic Communication Section at the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) and member of EUPRERA and AIRP.

Duration

1 hour