The Media in Climate Sustainable Development

By Patrick Luganda-(Chairman)NETWORK OF CLIMATE JOURNALISTS IN THE GREATER HORN OF AFRICA

(NECJOGHA)

Media Role

We are building on the Traditional Pillars of the basic global media roles to: Inform Educate EntertainThe truth is the common denominator.

And, the truth will set us free. Report responsibly

Role of the Media

Achieving successful education by the media requires to win:

Public Trust & Public Confidence This creates the Foundation for an

effective Public Communication of Science and Technology

The Various Media Print-Newspapers, Newsletters, magazines Radio-Fm Stations, National Radio, Community

Radio Television-National, International Channels Internet-World Wide Web ICT- Information Communication Technology Mass Meetings-Local Communities Brochures-Easy to read and understand Posters-Strategically located Billboards-Communication linked to advertising Theatre, plays and video shows

Situation Analysis

Climate reporting challenging Climate information not reaching

the intended recipients The media has been responding to

crisis Lack critical mass climate

journalists more science/media interaction to

build capacity for both sectors

Media in COF Process3 Propose Africa Climate Media Initiative to

consolidate fragmented media communication efforts currently supported by WMO, ACMAD, ICPAC, SADC-DMC, CLIMDEV, IRI, NOAA-OGP, IPFCC, International Climate centers, NHMS in RA1, NGOs etc.

Need to develop a comprehensive Africa media strategy document for the next 5-10 years

Climate Communication Concerns

Seasonal forecast dissemination Climate vulnerability Climate Change Communication Climate Change Adaptation Communication in local languages Application of Climate Information Disaster Risk Communication Socio-economic benefits

Media Needs Good stories with all the attributes built

around the 5W and H Powerful stories well researched and

professionally assembled Consumable material for our varied

audiences Creating an atmosphere of confidence,

trust leading to acceptance for public benefit

Sustained Development

Media enriches the knowledge to do things better.

Disaster risk reduction Dissemination of climate information

enables better agriculture practices and increases productivity

Improves public health awareness and enables public expenditure savings

Savings in construction, power industry generation, transport systems

Sustained Development

Educated public is a permanent achievement

Informed public able to make improved decision making at all levels

Dissemination of climate information leads to informed public debate

Better acceptance and appreciation of climate information for development

Sustained Development- Appreciation of climate information

leads to better utilization & adaptation strategies

Projected Climate change disruptions especially in fragile economies can be managed by societies learning basics of climate change through the media

Factoring climate change information healthy for sustained planning of economies, governments etc

Water Supply A major concern for survival. Water availability determines the food on

the table, the health of the communities and survival of livestock

Water quality determines child mortality and this is very critical in Africa including urban areas

Water leads to conflicts and may lead to tribal deaths in pastoral communities like the Karamoja and Masaai clusters in East Africa

Water Supply2 Availing information on water flow in river

basins may prove essential for survival of thousands of water dependent people

Advance information needs to be made available to decision makers well in time

Enables planning for irrigation, hydro power generation, construction and infrastructure projects, production etc

Humanitarian relief planning

Climate Change-Urban Pressures Rural-urban migration causing

pressures on the facilities in the cities Survival off the land more difficult with

worsening climate change. Leading to migration to towns

City authorities hard pressed to cope even with things like garbage control

The media can play an important role in raising awareness and developing strategies to cope with the increased pressures.

Climate Change-Food Security

Africa to increase rapid food production, timely climate information needed

Leads to informed decision at productive windows of opportunity

Land selection, land use preparation

Climate Change-Food Security

Seed selection, preparation or acquisition

Input decisions including loans Water for production application

(irrigation)

Food Security Using window of opportunity theory

undertake: Timely planting Fertilizer application (for soil enrichment) Timely weeding Diseases and pest control management

regimes Timely Harvesting Post harvest losses reduction/control Storage for future utilization

Food Security and Marketing Armed with Climate information important

decisions can be made on amounts of food to store for food reserve and excess for sale.

Good food forecast estimates can be made to exploit market opportunities

Opportunities exist to turn challenges into wealth. We can turn Africa into a credible food basket using climate information together with market information analysis etc

The African Media Lessons

What Has Happened? The media in Africa has started working

closely with the Climate Science Community to spearheaded the timely dissemination of climate information

The critical mass of reporters still wanting

Specialized beats absent The COP meetings at the global level,

several regional meetings and Climate Outlook Forums are major interaction for the media and the scientists.

What…..? GHA Media is advocating for a global

drive for the media to play a more active role in climate information dissemination

When a handful of journalists in the region came together in The Network of Climate Journalists in the Greater Horn of Africa-NECJOGHA- it gave birth to “Climate Journalism”, “Climate Journalist.” Still developing

Impact Analysis So far Has the media dissemination been

effective? Have the media stories influenced

decisions at various levels? Have we become better reporters? Has the interaction created more

informative media houses in the GHA? How has this relationship enriched the

quality of journalists in the GHA?

Impacts From analyzing the past relationship we can

map the way forward. The media needs to look far beyond the

present situation to be able to have a more meaningful, effective and beneficial Public Communication of Climate Science Information

Africa has been in the forefront of the RCOFs process and is likewise at the helm of building a vibrant and responsive Climate Media. It needs our concerted support

Way Forward-Proposals Regular Climate Communication events Impact Studies of media

communication Document impacts of climate

variability and climate change in Africa Media persons need to write

international articles on climate change and adaptation to give the world the true African perspective