African media urged to highlight climate adaptation demands

Power Shift Africa executive director Mohamed Adow has told journalists to highlight the continent’s adaptation demands for building sustainable resilience to effects of climate change.

He said this on Monday in Mombasa, Kenya, during training of journalists meant to address gaps in communication coverage of climate change adaptation strategies and challenges in Africa.

Adow said the media is key to pushing for finance and investment in locally-led adaptation initiatives.

He said, “Climate change discourse emphasises mitigation, neglecting adaptation, leading to a lack of strategy to deal with the crisis.

“The media should popularise the continent’s adaptation needs to push stakeholders to embrace measures, including funding initiatives that build resilience.”

A data and investigative freelance journalist in Egypt, Eman Mounir, said stakeholders in climate change discourse must engage the media on matters that need to be promoted for the well-being of Africa.

The two-day meeting has gathered about 30 journalists and experts from the five regions on the continent.