By Oforiwa Darko
Climate change, a global problem is complex for many people to digest, however contextualizing it to African communities makes it more relatable for people in the global south who are the hardest hit. In this regard, the media’s role is crucial, especially Journalists who have to disseminate the verified, impartial, and accurate climate issues of public importance.
The Executive Director of Power Shift Africa, Mohamed Adow has therefore charged African journalists to highlight the indigenous innovative solutions that are being developed in response to climate change to inspire hope and mobilize action in African countries.
He further noted that many communities in Africa are taking action on climate change in their own way and by reporting on these initiatives, journalists can help to give priority to the efforts being put in place by the grassroots.
“It is time for Africa to act now to protect its interest and values on climate discourse platforms. By working together to raise awareness, educate communities, and build the necessary infrastructure, we can help build climate resilience in Africa and create a more sustainable future for all”.
African countries are responsible for a small percentage of the carbon pollution driving up global temperatures, yet are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. For this reason, Aghan Daniel who is the Chief Executive of Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA), underscored journalists’ vital role in Africa’s climate opportunity hence the need to boost their capacity to help bridge the existing gaps of climate change awareness and Africa’s adaptation negotiations.
Fadhel Kaboub, Associate Professor of Economics at Denison University in Ohio, called on African leaders to develop a robust and coordinated policy response as well a clear-cut vision for Africa to pursue a collective climate change and resilient agenda. This he says will help build and strengthen regional partnerships with key actors within the continent to rally support for its implementation goals and also promote low-carbon development in Africa.
“Africa should not be part of a general pool of a climate vision apart from its own vision to enable it to deliver on its goal for an inclusive and sustainable development in championing the climate agenda”.
Ahead of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) and Africa Climate Week (ACW) which would be held in Nairobi, over forty print, broadcast and web-based journalists from across Africa have participated in a climate training Programme to boost climate change coverage from an African perspective and a human interest point of view by giving a face to the impacts of climate change that can already be observed in communities all over Africa.
The two-day Africa Journalists’ Climate Training held in Machakos county, Kenya, was made possible through the collaboration of Power Shift Africa, a climate and energy think tank and the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA).
