- According to ‘The State of the Climate in Africa 2022’ report’, over 110 million people in Africa were directly impacted by weather, climate and water-related hazards.
- Through accurate reporting and effective communication, the media can help communities, policymakers, and stakeholders understand the severity of the situation.
- Mr John Allan-Namu, a Kenyan award-winning investigative journalist and CEO of Africa Uncensored, stressed the media’s role in creating awareness on the climate financing pledges.
In Africa’s journey towards energy transition, the media holds a pivotal position in shaping public discourse, informing decision-making, and policy formulation on climate change.
With the pressing need for sustainable energy solutions across the continent, media plays a crucial role in disseminating accurate information and raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector.
At an inaugural Climate Africa Warsha, recently convened by The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and its alliance partners, speakers regretted that the continent has a shortage of trained climate journalists, resulting in limited climate desks, and inadequate coverage, leaving the public less informed about crucial climate issues and solutions.
According to ‘The State of the Climate in Africa 2022’ report’, over 110 million people in Africa were directly impacted by weather, climate, and water-related hazards, resulting in economic damages exceeding US$ 8.5 billion.
State of Climate in Africa
The report’s findings highlight the urgent need for action on climate change across the continent.
With millions facing the consequences of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and storms, the importance of prioritizing climate adaptation and resilience measures cannot be overstated.
These staggering figures highlight the critical role of the media in raising awareness and driving action on climate issues.
Through accurate reporting and effective communication, the media can help communities, policymakers, and stakeholders understand the severity of the situation and work towards sustainable solutions.
Speaking on May 3, 2024 during the Climate Africa Warsha, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Global Advisor to GEAPP, said GEAPP was formed to address energy poverty, and to tackle climate crisis through a just transition to renewable energy in emerging markets.
Insights
“The climate Africa Warsha is a crucial platform for exchange between the media and other industry stakeholders, empowering journalists to effectively report on climate concerns, and ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future for Africa,” said Prof Osinbajo.
The Warsha provides a platform for journalists to connect with renewable energy stakeholders, equipping them with the insights and skills needed to enhance their reporting on the climate crisis, energy access, and transition solutions.
Through this initiative, journalists gain valuable knowledge and resources to effectively communicate the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector.
By fostering dialogue and collaboration between media professionals and key stakeholders, the Warsha aims to elevate the quality and impact of reporting on climate-related issues.
He added that journalists and communication specialists need to appreciate the real issues, stating that they are not just the monitors but also the catalysts of change.
“The alliance aims to reduce 4 gigatons of future carbon emissions, expand clean energy access to one billion people, and in turn enable 150 million new jobs,” said Prof Osinbajo.
Green Energy Financing
A recent revelation shows that energy access financing and climate adaptation efforts are heavily focused in high-income countries.
Developing nations receive a mere 13 per cent of green energy financing, with only 6 per cent of solar PV and wind energy infrastructure deployed globally in 2021 going to the world’s 81 energy-poor countries.
This disparity emphasises the urgent need for more equitable distribution of resources to address energy poverty and climate resilience in developing nations.
At the same time, Mr John Allan-Namu, a Kenyan award-winning investigative journalist and CEO of Africa Uncensored, stressed the media’s role in creating awareness on the climate financing pledges.
“Journalists need to report on why the pledges haven’t worked in the past. When nations walk out of discussions and walk away from pledges, the impact is felt. It is not all about mentioning signatories but talking about the impact of this at a granular, community and national level,” said Namu.
The participants engaged in discussions on crucial topics like Africa’s role in achieving global renewable energy and energy efficiency targets, including the COP 28 target to triple the world’s installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030.
Overcoming Challenges in Climate Reporting
Phoebe Sullivan, Energy Officer at Power Africa, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, saying the abundance of renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal are capable of meeting the continent’s current and future energy demand.
“At Power Africa, we recognise the pivotal role of the media in shaping public opinion and policy towards sustainable energy solutions.
“The Climate Africa Warsha provides a valuable platform for journalists to deepen their understanding of renewable energy and climate change, ultimately driving progress towards a greener future,” said Sullivan.
Adenike Oladosu, a prominent climate justice activist, emphasised the importance of media engagement in the fight against climate change, stating that: “Climate journalists and the civil society play complementary roles in raising awareness, driving change, and shaping public discourse on climate change and the transition to clean energy.”
Oladosu maintained that by empowering the two groups with the tools and knowledge needed to cover environmental issues effectively, the media can inspire action and mobilize communities towards sustainable solutions.
The Warsha sought to adopt an online format, to address geographical boundaries, making it accessible to a wider group of journalists across Africa.
The approach not only broadens the impact but also optimises resource utilisation, enabling the programme to be delivered with greater efficiency and at a lower cost.
The Emergency Database 2022 report highlights 5,000 reported fatalities, with 48 per cent attributed to drought and 43 per cent to flooding. Shockingly, this narrative has been underrepresented in the media.
Despite the significant loss of life, the impact of climate-related events such as droughts and floods has not received adequate attention in media coverage.
The report underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and action to address these pressing challenges.
Empowering Journalists
A September 2023 report by Internews identifies major obstacles to effective climate change reporting in East Africa.
It cited insufficient coverage, generic stories with a global perspective rather than a local focus, limited access to climate experts, and a lack of training and specialisation in climate and environment reporting among journalists and newsrooms.
The report sheds light on the challenges hindering accurate and comprehensive reporting on climate issues in the region.
It emphasises the need for increased local focus, access to expertise, and specialised training to improve the quality of climate reporting in East Africa.
A survey conducted by GEAPP revealed that at least 97 per cent of respondents were interested in training on identifying and reporting climate misinformation.
However, the most curious finding suggests that two-thirds of journalists surveyed in East Africa feel the need to include climate change skeptics or deniers to provide “balance” in their reporting.
This can lead to the amplification of false or misleading information.
The survey highlights the importance of providing journalists with training to accurately identify and combat climate misinformation, while also addressing the challenge of false balance in reporting.
Vision for Sustainable Energy
The inaugural event which attracted nearly 100 participants from over 20 countries, commended the programme’s focus on practical skills development, and its emphasis on building a collaborative network in the climate and energy space.
Recognising the importance of continuous learning and engagement, the Warsha will be conducted at least twice annually, ensuring sustained momentum and keeping the journalist community updated with the latest developments and best practices in climate reporting.
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GEAPP is a coalition of philanthropy, governments from emerging and developed economies, and technology, policy, and financing partners.
With key philanthropic partners including IKEA Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund, it focuses on creating the enabling environment, building capacity, and shaping market conditions for private sector solutions.
The alliance aims to catalyse new business models through innovation and entrepreneurship, working towards sustainable energy solutions for a better future.
