By Moses Akwashiki
Climate change experts, environmental advocates, and media professionals have called on journalists to take a more active role in promoting climate awareness, accountability, and environmental justice through accurate and impactful reporting.
The call was made during a two-day media training conference on “Climate Governance and Gender Mainstreaming in the UNFCCC and Minamata Conventions,” organised by Women Environmental Programme in collaboration with EnviroNews Advocacy & Campaigns for Sustainability and other partners in Abuja.
Speaking during the opening session, Publisher of EnviroNews Nigeria and Executive Director of Endvocas, Michael Simire, described journalists as critical stakeholders in the fight against climate change, stressing that the media must move beyond conventional reporting to become agenda setters, watchdogs, educators, and catalysts for change.
According to him, climate impacts such as flooding, heatwaves, biodiversity loss, pollution, and desertification are already affecting communities across Nigeria, making informed environmental reporting more important than ever.
He noted that global frameworks such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury provide opportunities for countries to strengthen climate governance and environmental protection, but added that such frameworks can only succeed when citizens understand them and institutions are held accountable.
Simire also stressed the need for gender-responsive climate reporting, saying women and girls remain disproportionately affected by climate change and mercury pollution despite being underrepresented in policy-making spaces.
He urged journalists participating in the training to embrace investigative reporting, data-driven storytelling, and policy analysis in amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities.
Delivering the keynote address titled, “From Personal Effort to National Action: Reimagining Climate Change Governance in Nigeria,” former member of the House of Representatives and sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021, Sir Sam Onuigbo, said climate change has evolved from an environmental concern into a developmental, economic, humanitarian, and security challenge.
He explained that the shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin, worsening floods, desertification, food insecurity, and farmer-herder conflicts are among the visible consequences of climate change already threatening livelihoods and national stability in Nigeria.
Onuigbo noted that climate governance requires collective action involving governments, lawmakers, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector, traditional institutions, women, youths, and the media.
The former lawmaker highlighted the significance of the Climate Change Act 2021, which he sponsored, saying the legislation established a national framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable development, and coordinating climate action across government institutions.
He explained that the law also established the National Council on Climate Change chaired by the President to coordinate climate policies and ensure integration of climate considerations into national development planning.
According to him, climate governance cannot succeed through legislation alone, stressing the need for strong legislative oversight, executive implementation, climate financing, climate education, and public enlightenment.
Onuigbo further challenged journalists to investigate climate financing, expose environmental corruption, counter misinformation, and amplify local resilience efforts.
He commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementing reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s climate transition agenda, including the operationalisation of the Climate Change Fund, renewable energy initiatives, carbon market policies, and sustainable mobility programmes.
Also speaking, Founder and Global Lead of the Women Environmental Programme, (WEP) Dr. Priscilla Mbarumun Achakpa, said climate change and chemical pollution have become urgent global realities affecting public health, livelihoods, food systems, and vulnerable communities.
She described the media as a force for transformation capable of shaping public understanding, influencing policy conversations, and driving accountability.
Achakpa said environmental reporting must connect science to the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians while simplifying complex environmental issues without compromising accuracy.
She emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between journalists, civil society groups, policymakers, and researchers to advance climate justice and sustainable development.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development, Policy and Technical Manager, Jeremiah Ato, said accurate and evidence-based environmental reporting is essential for strengthening public trust, accountability, and policy implementation.
He urged media practitioners to advocate increased government funding for environmental governance, climate action, adaptation programmes, and pollution control initiatives.
Participants at the training were encouraged to use their platforms to promote environmental sustainability, climate justice, and public awareness on issues relating to climate governance, gender mainstreaming, and mercury pollution.
The conference also featured sessions on investigative climate journalism, policy analysis, data-driven storytelling, and strategies for amplifying the voices of women and vulnerable groups in climate governance discussions.
