Campaign Editor-in-Chief Gideon Spanier moderated the panel on the media’s role in mitigating the climate crisis

To recognise Earth Day (22 April), and in support of Haymarket Impact’s commitment to UN SDG 13: Climate Action, it was standing room only in the company’s Twickenham HQ, as Ad Net Zero joined to present to employees and take part in a panel discussion. 

As a supporter of Ad Net Zero and partner for events including the Campaign Ad Net Zero Award, it is important all of Haymarket’s employees – not just those who work closely with them – understand who they are, what they do and how they are working to make the industry more sustainable. 

Moderated by Campaign’s Gideon Spanier, the panel included Elle Chartres, Ad Net Zero UK Director, Matt Bourn, Director of Communications for the Ad Association, Chloe Harman, Editor of MIMS and Jonathan Whitehead, Commercial Development Director for Haymarket Business Media. 

Chloe also chairs the Haymarket’s Environment Network, an employee initiative created in response to how colleagues in the UK were eager to do more on the ground to contribute to the company’s global Impact agenda. Jon joins Chloe as a member of the Environment Network, as well as being chair of Haymarket’s Ad Ops Steering Group

The panel covered everything from driving behaviour change, the role of AI and how it can be a force for good with sustainability, why greenwashing can be an unhelpful term, the climate-related questions for our journalists to ask in interviews, the danger in content around the climate crisis being too negative, and how as an industry we must avoid ‘sustainability fatigue’. 

Gideon also touched on Sebastian Munden, chair of Ad Net Zero, and Matt Bourn’s column in Campaign on Earth Day, warning there is a real challenge to ensure climate action remains central to the industry’s discussions and not to get distracted. 

Read the full piece here and discover more on decarbonising our industry and using the influence we have to promote a more sustainable economy. Sustainability ranks in the top three issues for Advertising Association members, sitting alongside trust and inclusion. It is critical to talent attraction and retention, and is commonly a staple inclusion for company procurement contracts.

Haymarket’s Impact ESG framework recognises that if the business is to effect real, meaningful change, it needs to focus its energies and efforts around those United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) where the media, data and information company has the most right to play, and where it can make the most positive difference. Right now, Haymarket believes this lies in Quality Education, Gender Equality and Climate Action, underpinned by Partnerships for the Goals. 

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About Haymarket Group

Haymarket Media Group is a privately-owned media, data and information company, shaping a better future with remarkable content for specialist audiences across the world. The company has 1,300 employees across offices in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Germany and the Netherlands.

Haymarket’s portfolio consists of more than 70 market-leading brands including Campaign, Third Sector, What Car?, MyCME and Asian Investor.

Through live, digital, print, education, data, tech services, video and audio, Haymarket’s brands inspire, inform and empower clients and communities internationally.

Media Enquiries: Tara Geoghegan, Comms & Impact Manager, Haymarket Media Group, communications@haymarket.com