African journalists told to mobilise climate action

Power Shift Africa executive director Mohamed Adow has urged African journalists to elevate the continent’s narratives on climate change to mobilise action around the continent that will enhance local communities’ adaptation.

He said this yesterday in Machakos, Kenya during an Africa Journalists Climate Training aimed at strengthening climate reporting organised in partnership with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (Mesha).

Adow said the media is key to helping locals understand climate change issues.

He said: “Africa is most affected, but least responsible for the climate crisis. It is also the least informed and engaged about the crisis despite being heavily devastated.

“The media should disseminate understandable concepts to raise awareness among locals for action to build resilience and adaptation.”

Commenting on the worsening disasters, Adow said the continent and African leaders must do better on climate action with the available data on climate.

Mesha’s chief executive officer Aghan Daniel said they are committed to supporting journalists promote Africa’s voices to shape negotiations on adaptation and reflect the continent’s priorities and actions on climate change.

An editor with NewsWatch newspaper in Cameroon, Ndi Eugene Ndi, said it is important for science experts to dissect the complexities around climate change for journalists to serve audiences well.

The two-day meeting has convened about 50 journalists from more than 30 African countries.