The Nairobi-based Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) on Thursday launched an award to reward media practitioners in the continent who spotlight the continent’s climate crisis in a profound manner.
Mithika Mwenda, the executive director of PACJA, said at the launch of the seventh edition of Africa Climate Change and Environmental Reporting (ACCER) Awards in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, that ACCER Awards aim to motivate journalists to raise the visibility of the continent’s green agenda.
He emphasized that a climate justice narrative led by African media players was required as the continent prepares to host the 27th session of the Conference of Parties (COP27) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change summit slated for Nov. 7 to 18 in Egypt.
While acknowledging that climate emergencies had escalated in Africa, reversing economic growth while devastating ecosystems and livelihoods, Mwenda called for the media to amplify the voices of victims at the grassroots level.
In addition, Mwenda said the media should propagate narratives that are required to reshape climate policies besides raising the visibility of innovations and technologies that can re-invigorate green growth.
Launched in 2013, ACCER Awards have ensured the continent played a major role in shaping global conversation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a means to realize a green and resilient future, according to Mwenda.
Augustine Ndjamnshi, the chair of Technical and Political Affairs at PACJA, said that some key areas the African media should highlight to boost climate response include financing, public education and technology transfer.
Xinhua
