Hill & Knowlton Selected as Official Media Sponsor for United Nations Climate Change Conference

NEW YORK, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has selected international communications consultancy Hill & Knowlton as official media sponsor for the UN Conference on Climate Change, COP15, to be held in Copenhagen over two weeks starting December 7( ).

H&K will support an information campaign to encourage climate conscious behavior by delegates and others to help reduce GHG emissions during COP15. The campaign will also ensure that knowledge from the conference regarding climate conscious behavior will be communicated more broadly, locally and internationally.

Mr. Svend Olling, Head of Department of COP15 logistics at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark commented on H&K's selection: "We want to get across the message that even major conferences like this can be conducted in an eco-friendly manner, especially concerning GHG emissions. We are happy that we have found a partner that has extensive knowledge of global campaigning and handling of international media relations."

H&K is the world's oldest and largest public relations and public affairs network and has more than 81 offices in 43 countries. It published its own sustainability manifesto in July 2008 and has a dedicated environmental practice. It recently held a global 'green day' to promote energy saving and CO2 reduction in its offices worldwide to coincide with the vernal/autumnal equinox on October 22nd. It is a pro bono advisor to the Iwokrama rainforest trust in Guyana.

Paul Taaffe, global chairman & CEO of Hill & Knowlton, said: "Climate change is the world's number one issue and a huge and complex challenge for us all. We believe that effective global communications about practical solutions is central to meeting this challenge and we are delighted to have been selected to help at COP15."

The COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen will see political leaders and top government officials from 192 countries come together with the aim of agreeing on a framework to combat climate change, replacing the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012.

Notes to editors:

About COP15
The COP15 conference (http://www.cop15.dk) is the fifteenth Conference of the Parties under the United Nations' Framework Climate Change Convention (www.unfccc.int). Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty (UNFCCC) - to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. More recently, a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures.

About Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton http://www.hillandknowlton.com is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered in New York, with 81 offices in 43 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, one of the world's largest communications services groups.