The Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for environment, Keriako Tobiko has saluted the initiative by the Pan African Media Alliance, PAMACC and AfricaonAir to reinforce and enhance the capacity of media professionals to better report on climate change. The Cabinet Secretary who was guest of honour at the opening of the launch of the Africa Climate Story Media Initiative (ACSMI) July 25,2022 in Nairobi, Kenya noted that journalists play an important role in the climate change debate, therefore the need to improve their know-how on the subject.

“Capacitating the media is key in driving climate actions” he said, adding that there was need to improving the quality of coverage on climate change topics ahead of COP 27 in Egypt, 2022. The COP 27 is an African COP and African climate change journalists have the challenge and opportunity to better tell the African climate story, he emphasized.

The launching and training workshop that brought together some 40 journalists representing various types of media from across Africa and preponderantly PAMACC members, is holding under the theme “Amplifying Africa’s voice on climate”

Joseph Warungu, director and media training coordinator AfricaonAir, co-convenor ACSMI, said the four days intense learning provided journalists the opportunity to increase their awareness of the fundamental role of the media in the implementation of climate change actions by the different stakeholders.

“The goal of the Africa climate story initiative is to see how journalaists from Africa can better amplify Africa’s voice on climate ahead of the UN climate summit COP27 in Egypt and beyond” Warungu said.

According to the United Nations, climate extremes trigger increasing temperatures, high sea levels, changing precipitation patterns etc threatening human health, and safety and the livelihood of the population.

For PAMACC continental coordinator Isaiah Esipisu, the event provides the opportunity for PAMACC members to be abreast with these climate intricies to better report on them.

“The Nairobi event also permit PAMACC and partners to role out the roadmap for COP 27, “ Esipisu said.

Day one of the launch and training tackled issues including ,” ensuring a just, weather and climate information, equitable and inclusive energy transition; key consideration; unpacking the climate development nexsus, accessing the evidence highlight of findings from IPCC reports, mitigation opportunities for Africa etc.

Journalists were encouraged to also undergo self training on these salient climate topics, hookup with resource persons and experts as they prepare to submit pitches for stories whose quality will  be assessed and selected for support to develop and published on the PAMACC news platform.

According to PAMACC, themes that journalists are called to write on include adaptation, climate finance, agriculture, food security energy access and just transition, loss and damage, early warning system, development co-benefits, COP27.

It should be noted that the Pan African Media Alliance, PAMACC that is co-hosting the event is a network of African Journalists who report on climate change, environment, sustainable development and related subject. The Alliance has over 120 members, located in different parts of the continent with coordination offices in four regions, East, Central, West and Southern Africa.

AfricaonAir, the other co-host is a dynamic media and content production platform working with media owners, investors, regulators, managers, journalists, training institutions and donors to support the re-tooling, re-skilling and re-imagining of the a new vibrant media sector capable of advancing peaceful, wealthy and just societies in Africa and beyond.

Elias NGALAME