Thinking Global, Communicating Local With Mairi Dupar

Communicating Climate Change

This episode features a conversation with Mairi Dupar, a Senior Technical Advisor in the Global Risks and Resilience Programme at independent global think tank, ODI. It was recorded in December 2022.

Mairi, whose expertise lies in climate risk management and ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, works with colleagues in Africa, South Asia and Latin America on enhancing and restoring ecosystem functions for nature and people as part of a holistic approach to implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change. She’s also worked extensively on social inclusion - especially regarding the rights of women and historically disadvantaged groups - in climate policies and investments.

Mairi has worked at ODI since 2010, where she previously worked as Head of Knowledge Management for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network. She also serves as the Technical Lead of the Knowledge Hub for Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World.

Mairi provides research support for the Climate Ambition Support Alliance, which works to amplify the voice and influence, as well as defend the interests, of small island states and least developed countries in the international climate change negotiations.

Before joining ODI, Mairi worked as a Senior Research Associate at the World Resources Institute. She was also a Campaign Coordinator and science writer at RSPB/BirdLife, working especially on tropical forest restoration, renewable energy and marine conservation.

Amongst other things, our discussion explores where and when certain messengers might not be the best choice, how communicators can work with partners for greater impact, and the importance of always remembering to put things in local terms.

Additional links:

ODI’s website

Communicating climate change - a practitioner’s guide

Free resources from the Climate & Development Knowledge Network