It has been five years since the historic climate agreement made in 2015 at the 21st?Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris. With scientists continuing to share new information on climate change modelling, the need to convert emission targets from words into actions has never been more important. Journalists and journalism schools have a vital role to play in ensuring mitigation and adaptation strategies are discussed openly through strong journalism practices where freedom of expression thrives. This is particularly important in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and South-East Asian and sub-Saharan African countries, where extreme weather events are likely to increase in the coming decades.
The UNFCCC, which preceded all COPs, addressed scientific information, education, training and public awareness and emphasized the role that non-governmental organizations could play in combating climate change in article?4 of the Treaty.
The project entitled ‘Post-COP21?Phase II: Strengthening Media Capacity to Monitor and Report on Climate Change in Asia-Pacific and Africa’ sought to consolidate and strengthen the work achieved during the first phase of the project, which was supported by the Cooperation Programme between Malaysia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The second phase continued to put into practice article?4 of the UNFCCC Treaty, while strengthening various UNESCO resources on journalism education, sustainable development and climate change in regional contexts. These resources include:
The activities undertaken during the first phase of the Malaysia-UNESCO Cooperation Programme have had an impact on SIDS and in South-East Asia and Africa. Over 80?influential journalists from Malaysia and selected countries were equipped with greater knowledge on the science of climate change and strategies to better investigate, monitor and report on it to their respective audiences. One regional training targeting young journalists from South-East Asia was hosted by the Cambodia Institute for Media Studies and facilitated by climate- and photojournalists from the Philippines. One of the key lessons learned from the initial phase of this project was the need to focus on the human aspect of climate change and sustainable development. Beneficiaries felt that climate change mitigation and adaptation are best achieved when people are empowered within the 2030?Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly with regard to Sustainable Development Goal?(SDG)?5, on gender equality; SDG?11, on sustainable cities and communities; SDG?13, on climate action; and SDG?16, on peace, justice and strong institutions, thereby echoing the challenge to leave no one behind.
During Phase I of this project, the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication published Getting the Message Across: Reporting on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: A Handbook for Journalists. It explores the essential aspects of climate change, including its injustices to vulnerable communities, especially women and girls and least developed countries. The Handbook also provides examples of best practices and stories of hope unique to the region. It can be used as a resource for journalists to understand the science of climate change and help them to improve reporting on the environmental, social, economic, political and technological angles of the story, among others.
This Handbook is part of the UNESCO Series on Journalism Education, which aims to promote excellence in journalism. It is designed to reinforce the capacities of journalists, journalism educators and their institutions to promote sustainable development by enhancing coverage of science, development and democratic governance.
During the second phase of this project, the Handbook was adapted into a massive open online course. Additionally, in April?2019, UNESCO introduced the Handbook at the fifth Media Summit on Climate Action and Preparedness of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union?(ABU), which was held in Kathmandu, Nepal. During the Summit, public service broadcasters from the Asia-Pacific region were also trained on climate change reporting based on the Handbook, and the training was facilitated by a senior lecturer from the Universiti Sains Malaysia.
In October?2019, ABU organized a South-South twinning programme for approximately 20?broadcast journalists from SIDS and African and South-East Asian States to promote the transfer of knowledge and good practices on climate change coverage. The twinning programme included the development of a training programme based on the UNESCO Handbook. In addition, a workshop was organized, and specialized reports were produced. There was also a follow-up to discuss how trainees would integrate these skills in their climate change reporting.
This is a multi-pronged approach to tackling the issues of climate change through journalism. The Handbook has contributed to the project’s sustainability, as it has been translated into several languages in South-East Asia, including Thai. For example, the British Embassy in Thailand used the UNESCO Handbook to train over 100?journalists, editors and journalism students from Thailand on climate change reporting. Another key parameter that helps to ensure sustainability is the UNESCO field network and its partners, such as Internews, which was involved in the project’s implementation in Asia and the Pacific and continues to advocate for the outcomes through its Earth Journalism Network.
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