Practical expertise in climate and sustainability communications, with a focus on new EU regulations (EmpCo) – organised by PRVA, Klimaschutzakademie and ICCO.
Vienna – From 27 September 2026, new EU-wide requirements governing the communication of environmental and sustainability topics will apply. These requirements are highly relevant for marketing and PR professionals in companies as well as for the communications industry as a whole.
The so-called Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo) introduces stricter rules for environmental and sustainability claims. General statements such as “environmentally friendly”, “ecological” or “climate-friendly” may no longer be used without an appropriate factual basis. Visual, graphic or symbolic representations can also constitute environmental claims.
In future, sustainability claims will therefore need to be aligned even more closely with robust data, demonstrable sustainability performance and legal requirements.
Against this background, and with the aim of raising the quality of communications on climate action and sustainability, the Public Relations Verband Austria (PRVA), the Klimaschutzakademie and the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), the global umbrella organisation for the PR and communications industry, are offering the “Certified Sustainability Communications Expert” training programme.
The three-day, English-language, in-person programme will take place in Vienna from 14 to 16 October 2026. It is aimed at communications professionals from companies and agencies and provides practical knowledge for professional sustainability and climate communications.
In addition, the Charter for Sustainability and Climate Communications, developed by PRVA, already provides a framework for responsible and credible communications and is binding for all PRVA members.
PR industry against greenwashing and for fact-based climate communications
The programme focuses on the scientific foundations of climate change and the climate crisis, the current political and legal framework, and the associated opportunities and risks for companies. Further key topics include climate neutrality, science-based targets and the development of corresponding communications measures.
International training programme with ICCO certification
The programme will take place from 14 to 16 October 2026, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm each day, at the offices of Vienna-based communications consultancy Skills | Team Farner, Margaretenstraße 70, 1050 Vienna. Skills played a key role in developing the programme and is supporting this industry initiative as its host.
The training will be conducted in English. Trainers and lecturers include Johannes Naimer-Stach(Klimaschutzakademie), Peter Pototschnig (Klimaschutzakademie) and Jürgen Gangoly (ICCO Board Member and Managing Director of Skills | Team Farner).
The participation fee is EUR 2,090 plus VAT. Members of PR industry associations in the DACH region (PRVA, GPRA and LSA) benefit from a reduced participation fee of EUR 1,890 plus VAT. Both fees include ICCO certification.
The programme was jointly developed by the Klimaschutzakademie, leading PR associations from the DACH region (GPRA, PRVA, Österreichisches PR-Gütezeichen and LSA) and the international audit organisation AgencyExperts.org.
Following successful completion of the training programme and final examination, participants will receive the international “Certified Sustainability Communications Expert” certificate issued by ICCO.
