The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has launched an award to celebrate media practitioners in the continent who have been relentless in their reporting of the continent’s climate crisis.
Launched in 2013, the Africa Climate Change and Environmental Reporting (ACCER) Awards have ensured that the continent played a major role in shaping global conversation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to realize a green and resilient future, according to Mwenda.
Speaking during the launch of the seventh edition of the ACCER Awards in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the Executive director of PACJA, Mithika Mwenda said that the ACCER Awards are intended to motivate journalists to raise the visibility of the continent’s green agenda.
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According to him, 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) at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change summit slated for November 7 to 18 in Egypt.
Mwenda called for the media to amplify the voices of victims at the grassroots level, while acknowledging that climate emergencies had escalated in Africa, reversing economic growth while devastating ecosystems and livelihoods.
Additionally, 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.
Also speaking during the launch, the chair of Technical and Political Affairs at PACJA Augustine Ndjamnshi, said that some key areas the African media should highlight to boost climate response include financing, public education, and technology transfer.
Story was adapted from the Star.
