December 2023
Delegation's COP28 panel: unveiling challenges for journalists and scientists reporting on Climate Change
At this COP28, the delegation, represented by Deputy Ms Malene Nielsen, monitored a panel discussion on the challenges faced by journalists reporting climate change. Watch the panel discussion above.
The panel discussion touched on the experiences of young environmental journalists and the work of UNESCO experts on the issue.
In the face of global crises such as COVID-19 and climate change, the role of journalists is paramount in investigating and conveying how climate change is affecting our communities and planet and in bringing solutions. The Permanent Delegation of Denmark to UNESCO vividly advocates for the protection of journalists, scientists, and artists. In collaboration with UNESCO, the Delegation published the recent report “Critical Voices”. The report offers 25 recommendations, underscoring the need for enhanced collaboration between journalists and scientists, especially during crises.
Denmark, through its election to the Man and the Biosphere council, aims to focus its action towards supporting environmental journalism. Journalists Sara Tingström and Meral M. Jamal, shared insights from their experiences in climate crisis reporting and the Nordic-Canadian Fellowship in Environmental Journalism. The fellowship offers young journalists a unique opportunity to delve deeply into climate journalism, fostering intentional and impactful storytelling.
The collaboration between journalists and scientists is crucial for comprehensive environmental storytelling. Journalist Meral highlights the importance of connecting with scientists to deepen and enrich climate stories. Sara emphasizes the need for fact-based environmental journalism, advocating for mentorship and tools to navigate the evolving digital space.
Journalists face critical challenges in reporting on climate change, notably the rise of disinformation. The New York Times and the UN Secretary-General both emphasize the detrimental impact of disinformation on climate change progress. Environmental journalism, as revealed by the RSF 2021 report, is a risky profession, with 21 journalists killed in the last decade. The digital space further exposes journalists to disproportionate online attacks, necessitating strategies for protection.
UNESCO, aware of these challenges, has developed tools to equip journalists. These tools include handbooks on reporting climate change in specific regions, training courses on journalism, fake news, and disinformation, available in 34 languages. The organization has also facilitated collaborations between scientists and journalists during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure accurate reporting.
The digital landscape poses unique threats, particularly to women journalists who disproportionately face online harassment. Through a new brief, “Data sharing to foster information as a public good”, UNESCO advocates for transparency of digital platforms, emphasizing the need to gather data to protect journalists online and ensure media viability. This document could also be a step toward addressing the challenges faced by environmental journalists.
With climate disinformation identified as a major obstacle, the need for a joint strategy is imperative. The Nordic representative on the Man and the Biosphere council, Mads Randbøll Wolff, underscores the importance of strengthening local perspectives and science literacy. Journalists Sara and Meral call for more initiatives like Nordic Bridges, fostering partnerships with communities on the frontline of the biodiversity and climate crisis.
In conclusion, there is a collective call for increased investment in investigative journalism. Kristjan Burgess, Senior Programme Specialist at UNESCO invites to ongoing discussion and collaboration, extending an invitation to the World Press Freedom Day held in Santiago, Chile, in May. As we navigate the challenges of environmental journalism in the digital age, collaboration, transparency, and education emerge as key pillars for a resilient and empowered media landscape.
In the face of global crises such as COVID-19 and climate change, the role of journalists is paramount in investigating and conveying how climate change is affecting our communities and planet and in bringing solutions. The Permanent Delegation of Denmark to UNESCO vividly advocates for the protection of journalists, scientists, and artists. In collaboration with UNESCO, the Delegation published the recent report “Critical Voices”. The report offers 25 recommendations, underscoring the need for enhanced collaboration between journalists and scientists, especially during crises.
Strengthening Collaboration for Climate Reporting
Denmark, through its election to the Man and the Biosphere council, aims to focus its action towards supporting environmental journalism. Journalists Sara Tingström and Meral M. Jamal, shared insights from their experiences in climate crisis reporting and the Nordic-Canadian Fellowship in Environmental Journalism. The fellowship offers young journalists a unique opportunity to delve deeply into climate journalism, fostering intentional and impactful storytelling.
The collaboration between journalists and scientists is crucial for comprehensive environmental storytelling. Journalist Meral highlights the importance of connecting with scientists to deepen and enrich climate stories. Sara emphasizes the need for fact-based environmental journalism, advocating for mentorship and tools to navigate the evolving digital space.
Addressing Disinformation in Environmental Journalism
Journalists face critical challenges in reporting on climate change, notably the rise of disinformation. The New York Times and the UN Secretary-General both emphasize the detrimental impact of disinformation on climate change progress. Environmental journalism, as revealed by the RSF 2021 report, is a risky profession, with 21 journalists killed in the last decade. The digital space further exposes journalists to disproportionate online attacks, necessitating strategies for protection.
UNESCO Tools for Environmental Journalists
UNESCO, aware of these challenges, has developed tools to equip journalists. These tools include handbooks on reporting climate change in specific regions, training courses on journalism, fake news, and disinformation, available in 34 languages. The organization has also facilitated collaborations between scientists and journalists during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure accurate reporting.
Protecting Journalists Online
The digital landscape poses unique threats, particularly to women journalists who disproportionately face online harassment. Through a new brief, “Data sharing to foster information as a public good”, UNESCO advocates for transparency of digital platforms, emphasizing the need to gather data to protect journalists online and ensure media viability. This document could also be a step toward addressing the challenges faced by environmental journalists.
The Way Forward: A Joint Strategy
With climate disinformation identified as a major obstacle, the need for a joint strategy is imperative. The Nordic representative on the Man and the Biosphere council, Mads Randbøll Wolff, underscores the importance of strengthening local perspectives and science literacy. Journalists Sara and Meral call for more initiatives like Nordic Bridges, fostering partnerships with communities on the frontline of the biodiversity and climate crisis.
Conclusions
In conclusion, there is a collective call for increased investment in investigative journalism. Kristjan Burgess, Senior Programme Specialist at UNESCO invites to ongoing discussion and collaboration, extending an invitation to the World Press Freedom Day held in Santiago, Chile, in May. As we navigate the challenges of environmental journalism in the digital age, collaboration, transparency, and education emerge as key pillars for a resilient and empowered media landscape.