Climate Change in News Media
In the past decades, thanks to media, climate change concepts have been reported in an accessible way, which increased public understanding of the need for environmental protection. UNESCO aims to help media organizations go a step further than that and strengthen their capacities to use intelligence tools and technology to gather facts, sort and analyse data on the climate change situation, such as satellite imagery, databases on wind or weather, topographic data, etc, and report on the action or inaction of social actors by investigating public records, such municipal decisions, official declarations, parliamentary votings, etc. As a stakeholder group of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, media are also vital in disaster risk reduction, particularly in areas with high disaster risks and little Internet penetration.
Supporting media as key actors in climate action and disaster preparedness and response​
Capacity development for media in regions most vulnerable to climate change and natural hazards
Media can function effectively as key players in climate action and disaster management only when they have the right capacities, resources, and tools, and maintain journalistic standards, even during emergencies.​
UNESCO adopts a multifaceted approach to strengthening the institutional strategies and editorial practices of media organizations in covering climate change and other environmental issues. By leveraging digital tools and methodologies to enhance programming, reporting and content dissemination, beneficiary media are better capable of informing the public on solutions to local challenges, holding powerful actors accountable, and facilitating public debates.​
Current actions in this area cover regions heavily impacted by the effects of climate change, including Central and West Africa, Central Asia, the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
During disasters, when electricity and connectivity fail, satellite and terrestrial broadcast networks can still work and reach very large audiences simultaneously. In areas with low Internet access or literacy rates, particularly in remote areas, broadcast media are often the primary source of information and news for the populations.​
UNESCO is working to strengthen media in order that they are better prepared for potential disasters as institutions and better contribute to the disaster resilience of communities through their work. This includes supporting media in developing institutional plans and strategies on disaster readiness and response, enhancing editorial capabilities in investigative reporting on disaster risks, reinforcing programmes related to natural hazards and disaster risk reduction, and supporting agile broadcasting during extreme weather events.​
Actions around the World
Empowering Southeast Asian Media for Climate and Environmental Reporting
Addressing the pressing climate crisis in Southeast Asia demands the critical work of public interest media. To this end, 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ spearheaded the "Climate Change in News Media" training programme, a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing the reporting capabilities of 14 media organizations across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. This programme equipped media with advanced skills in using digital technologies to enhance climate and environmental reporting. Participating media also developed institutional strategies for climate reporting, produced investigative and constructive journalism pieces, and collaborated on cross-border environmental stories.
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