African journalists should take centre stage in telling the continent's climate crisis stories, the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye has said.This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by Dr Philip Kortei Attuquayefio, Advisor, Climate Peace and Security Department, Political Affairs, Peace and Security African Union Commission.The speech was read at the Pre Summit Forum for selected African journalists ahead of the 2nd Africa Climate Summit-ACS2 here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday.The AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, PAPSsaid Africa bore the greatest burden of climate shocks despite contributing least to global greenhouse gas emissions.To this end, he warned that that without strong, accurate reporting, the "climate peace security nexus" risked remaining little more than empty jargon.Mr Adeoye said journalists owed it a duty to highlight climate crisis and to hold policy makers accountable."Several examples shows how reporters are shaping global responses.
Somali and Kenyan journalists had drawn attention to the mass displacement which causes drought, while investigative work in the Lake Chad Basin exposes how shrinking resources fuelled the Boko Haram insurgency.
In Libya, local reporters shows how the 2023 Derna floods has worsen by governance failures and weak early warning systems" he added.He stated that some journalists faced severe obstacles and many lacked training to translate climate science into public narratives, while investigative reporting was stifled by scarce funding.Mr Adeoye said he was aware that in fragile nations, reporters risked censorship, harassment, and even physical danger."Across the continent, the rise of disinformation further complicated their task, with false narratives from divine punishment myths to ethnic blame threatening to undermine collective responses.The President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), Mr Omar Faruk Osman, who gave the opening remarks said the forum serves a link between climate impacts and security challenges.He said the AU and its Peace and Security Council affirmed the climate peace security nexus and were shaping a Common African Position, therefore journalism must be part of the effort to support the cause of educating the people.Ms Elise Nalbandian, Head, Oxfam AU Liaison Office, said climate crisis is not a distant threat; it is a present reality, eroding livelihoods, displacing communities, and acting as a threat multiplier that exacerbates conflict and undermines peace and security across the African continent.The German Development Cooperation representative, Ms Rebecca Minkus, on her part said "Africa contributes less to the negative impact of climate change yet still they suffer the most."This Pre Forum was jointly organised by the African Union Commission - Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security( AUC_PAPS), Federation of African Journalists( FAJafrica), Oxfam International ( Oxfam) GIZAfricanUnion Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH - African Union Office.The Two day Pre-Summit Forum on "Media as a Catalyst for Africa's Climate Change, Peace and Security Agenda: Driving Just Transition and Climate Justice" were held from September 6-7.It aims to promote a deliberate journalistic approach at the centre of the climate, peace and security discourse, shaping narratives that encourage accountability and inclusive approaches to address the interconnections between climate change impacts, livelihood insecurities, and compounding conflicts.It brought together more than 60 African policymakers, media professionals, and civil society representatives. FROM PRECIOUS NYARKO BOAKYE, ADDIS ABABA - ETHIOPIA🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today.
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