A unique climate course for communicators is starting this autumn for the third time at FH JOANNEUM. The academic course runs for two semesters, is designed to fit around work commitments, and brings renowned lecturers to Graz for interdisciplinary, practice-oriented exchange. Applications are now open.
In theory, it should work like this: science provides the facts needed to tackle the climate and sustainability crisis – and society acts accordingly. "But that's precisely what hasn't happened," says Carel Mohn, who runs klimafakten.de in Berlin, a central platform for climate knowledge and communication. The task, as the journalist and political scientist sees it: "We need to shape communication in a way that resonates, so that people are moved to act." Carel Mohn is one of the lecturers on the "Sustainability Communication and Climate Journalism" course, which is being offered this autumn for the third time at FH JOANNEUM in Graz. It is the only academic course in sustainability communication in the German-speaking world, and it is aimed at journalists as well as communicators from politics and public administration, the education sector, culture, civil society, and business.
In light of current geopolitical developments, authentic, empathetic and effective climate communication is more important than ever, says Thomas Wolkinger, who launched the course two years ago with the involvement of CCCA, the voice of Austrian climate research. "We're delighted that our graduates value the interdisciplinary exchange we offer. And that some truly remarkable practical projects have emerged over the past few years." For instance, the course provided support in developing the "Hitzefrei" newsletter for "Die Presse", accompanied the founding of the "Forum für Klimaschutz in Gmunden", and gave rise to a social media manual for the Klimavolksbegehren association, as well as the TikTok format "Klima und Che", which is currently being produced with EU funding.
"It's really important that many different players engage with this topic," agrees Katharina Benedetter (Hallo Klima!). "What makes this course such a brilliant offering is that it reaches people from very different professional backgrounds and enables them to make a contribution to climate communication and the climate transition."
Key details
The course kicks off on 22 September 2025 with an online onboarding session; classes take place between 7 October and 4 July 2026, comprising 25 in-person days in Graz and 26 Wednesday evening online lectures. To help cover course fees (€3,300 per semester), scholarship programmes are available from FFG (Skills Scheck 2025), the Viennese waff (Green Jobs), and the City of Graz.
Applications are open now until the end of June 2025 at https://www.fh-joanneum.at/nka. Personal advisory meetings can be arranged at any time by e-mail: nka@fh-joanneum.at.
Enquiries & contact
FH JOANNEUM / Course Director "Sustainability Communication &
Climate Journalism"
Thomas Wolkinger
Phone: 00436769389273
E-mail: thomas.wolkinger@fh-joanneum.at
Website: https://www.fh-joanneum.at/nka
