The issue of climate change is a tricky one. As a bit of an eco-warrior I do what I can. I use public transport, I recycle and I never fail to take a canvas bag with me when I head out the door to Tesco. The scale of the problem is so huge though that beyond these measly steps, I can't help feeling a bit helpless.

Is strong leadership from the government what's needed to turn Britain green? Undoubtedly, but according to the panel at this week's frontline event on climate change it seems the media has an equal role to play in making Britain go green.

Arranged by Frontline, 'Climate change: is the Coalition up to the challenge of the next five years?' was an interesting insight into the issue of climate change, the challenges that the 'Cammy-Leg' coalition face and the media's role in bringing a sense of balance to the argument.

Sounds easy right? Not so according to Fiona Harvey, environment correspondent at the Financial Times who seized the opportunity to discuss the challenges she faces in 'fairly' reporting on climate change. For every positive story about a wind-farm development going up, there's a story elsewhere on scientists getting their climate change figures wrong. For every article on Britain over-achieving on its emissions reduction targets there's a story on us missing the renewables target by a mile.

While climate change efforts can't be viewed through rose-tinted glasses all the time, would it be completely out of order for them to sit on the more 'optimistic' side of the fence?

Harvey used the example of the Daily Mail's 'illuminating' yet somewhat alarmist front page over the phasing out of iridescent light bulbs as a case in point.

If the media makes such a panic over something as simple as a lightbulb, how are we ever going to get the British public behind much bigger projects like wind turbine farms and tidal projects?

For me, this is far too important an issue to cloud the water with negative and at times, outrageous stories. Mark Maslin, director of the Environment Institute at University College London cited one story he'd seen where the heat from polar bears' breath was to blame for the melting caps. Is this kind of reporting really going to help get the public behind climate change measures or is it 'fair reporting' gone mad? Pass the rose-tinted glasses I say. 

Helen Ablett