The Media Platform on Environment and Climate Change (MPEC) has officially launched the Maiden Biennial Media Forum on Natural Resources, Environment, Climate Change and Science.
The event which was held on Monday (12 June, 2023) at the Ghana-Indian Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT was under the theme; “Strengthening media focus on natural resources, environment, climate change and science: Challenges, Prospect and Way Forward.”
It was aimed at amplifying the media’s capacity to investigate, report and bring focus to the critical issues pertaining science, the environment, climate change and natural resources.
The forum will enable journalists delve deeper into the complexities of natural resources management, environmental sustainability, climate change impact and the fundamental of science in addressing these issues.
Addressing the media, Professor Christopher Gordon, Founder and Former Director of the Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) of the University of Ghana, stated that, the media serves as a powerful catalyst for effective natural resources management.
He said journalists who act as knowledge brokers, play a vital role in disseminating information, fostering understanding, and promoting sustainable resource utilization and conservation.
“The responsibility of real media is very important. The role of the journalists as knowledge brokers means they have the responsibility to gather, analyze, and synthesize information from various sources, evaluating the credibility and reliability of the information before presenting it to their audience. Their work empowers communities and decision-makers, shaping a brighter future for our precious natural resources.
“Journalism should not be about just informing but be bent on transforming. Journalists play a pivotal role in transforming the environment and society by raising awareness, holding power accountable, and driving positive change through their reporting, storytelling, and investigative work,” he said.
He added that, news portal only have categories for business news, politics, entertainment, sports, and the likes but unfortunately there is no category for environmental news.
“I put it to you, look at all the media webpages and on all of those webpages, you have sports, politics, have you seen one with environment? Meanwhile this whole country depends on its natural resources. Climate change affects every aspect our lives because when it rains, you can not come from Aburi to Accra because the road is flooded. If it does not rain and you can not grow your crops and harvest it, that is a deficiency everywhere.”
Clarity Sibanda, representative of Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), in her solidarity message emphasized the significance of journalists addressing environmental climate change.
Sibanda stressed the need for journalists to integrate climate change in reporting, highlighting the benefits of natural resources and the importance of human-interest stories.
She added that, “Journalists should make use of multimedia in reporting and must be on the alert to follow up on stories they cover. It is also crucial for editors to be involved in the reporting process and training of reporters.”
Challenges
The forum opined that Journalists often face difficulties in understanding the technical intricacies of natural resources, climate change, environment, and science. The lack of specialist or expert knowledge to decode these technical issues can hinder their ability to accurately convey complex information to the public.
The lack of reliable and up-to-date information on the environment is a significant obstacle to journalists. Hence, it is difficult for them to give accurate and thorough coverage of environmental issues due to a lack of access to trustworthy data, scientific research, and expert opinions.
Due to the lack of equipment, covering issues about natural resources, climate change, the environment, and science is extremely difficult. The Journalists’ capacity to acquire images, gather data, and provide in-depth reporting is hampered by a lack of equipment like cameras, drones, and scientific tools.
Call for Action
Prof. Christopher Gordon proposed using policy to convert knowledge into wisdom. Governments and media organizations should collaborate to establish supportive policies prioritizing news coverage on natural resources, climate change, environment, and science. This includes funding, grants, incentives, and integrating these topics across different news beats for comprehensive coverage.
He added that, there should be the creation of more events or forums like BiM-NECS for journalists to discuss and exchange ideas enhances their understanding and coverage. These forums facilitate learning, collaboration, and innovation, fostering a community of journalists dedicated to environmental and scientific reporting.
On his part, Justice Adoboe, National Coordinator of the Ghana WASH Journalist(GWJN), said the current environmental crisis as a form of retribution from nature due to negligent resource management.
Daniel Hackman, the Coordinator of Forex Watch Ghana, and member of KASA, expressed his unwavering support by emphasizing the importance of journalists identifying law violations, conducting thorough research, and asking critical questions to ensure comprehensive news coverage.
He also emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for degrading natural resources.
