Coalition trains journalists on Climate Change Reporting

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Africa Make Big Polluters Pay Coalition has wrapped up a two-day training for journalists across the continent on climate change reporting, with a call for sustained coverage of the climate crisis from an Afrocentric perspective.

The coalition also renewed its call for just climate reparations for Africa and the Global South, which bear the most brunt of the climate crisis.

The virtual event, which was held on April 22-23, featured no fewer than 51 climate journalists from the print, electronic and online genres, and advocates from at least eight African countries, in addition to expert resource persons from Nigeria, Togo, The Gambia, the United States and India.

Themed “Communicating Climate Change: Realities, Impacts, and the Need for Action,” the training was organised by the MBPP Coalition and hosted by Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in partnership with Corporate Accountability (CA) with a focus on equipping journalists with the knowledge and skills necessary for promoting environmental justice and accountability.

The event also sought to demystify climate science and politics, providing participants with tools to effectively advocate for change. By uniting diverse stakeholders, the training aimed to cultivate a shared language around justice and environmental responsibility.

Day one featured presentations and remarks by leading environment and climate change experts, including the Executive Director Health of Mother Earth Foundation, (HOMEF), Corporate Accountability’s Managing Director Elvis Méndez, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice, Togo Kwami Kpondzo, CAPPA’s Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi and CAPPA’s Senior Climate Change Programme Manager Olamide Martins.

Mendez, who heads CA’s campaigns, said, “We are living in precarious times.” Mendez underscored the urgency for collective action against climate change, highlighting the significant power that corporations hold over governments.

“Corporations must be held accountable for their actions,” he asserted, emphasising that the gathering aimed to foster a unified approach to climate action.

The training also addressed the disparities in contributions to global climate change, particularly between the Global North and African nations.

Mendez pointed out that while African countries contribute relatively little to global emissions, they are among the hardest hit by climate-related consequences.

“Most pollution is generated in the Global North, yet it’s the Global South that suffers the most,” he stated.