By Martha Agas, JOS
The Climate Journalism Network Germany has tasked journalists on the need to produce more impactful reports on climate change, saying such reports should highlight the currently visible effects of the climate crisis on all facets of human life.
“Climate change is a health crisis, human rights crisis, supply, justice, social, water, economic and personal crisis,” said the Co-Founder of the Journalism Network, Ms. Sara Schurman, at a two-day virtual conference organized by the taz Panther Foundation, Germany.
She added that reporting constructively on climate change required offering insights into the crisis and reporting on limitations while also weighing alternatives.
“The climate crisis is extremely serious but not hopeless,” Schurmann said, adding that journalists should also point out feasible actions and solutions in addressing the situation.
In a paper entitled “Tools, Tips and Best Practices” Schurman, said, journalists had the responsibility of educating the public through their reports on the adverse effects of climate on humanity.
She explained that the climate crisis was also social because disadvantaged groups were usually the first to suffer from the consequences of global warming because they are poor and do not have the resources to adapt to extreme events.
“They also have difficulties protecting themselves from such changes and are often the first to bear the cost of climate protection measures.”
Schurmann said that for serious climate protection, emissions should not only be cut down but stopped completely and quickly.
Also speaking at the conference, the Co-founder of Covering Climate Now, Mr. Mark Hertsgaard, said the climate crisis should be treated as an emergency.
He said individuals, governments, and corporate organizations need to increase their efforts in saving the planet, adding that journalists should cover climate change as they would a crime report.
“We live in a crime scene, we will be affected by climate disaster,” he said.
He said 23 million people in Africa were on the brink of starvation following the three-year drought in their region as a result of climate change.
He urged journalists to report climate change with commitment as they covered COVID-19 because it was also an emergency that required urgent action.
The conference was organized for journalists from all parts of the world to help them cover the climate crisis in the most appropriate and scientifically sound way while engaging their audience.
NAN
