By Joke Kujenya
MORE THAN fifty African journalists gathered virtually for two days to strengthen their skills in climate change reporting, as the Africa Make Big Polluters Pay (MBPP) Coalition pushed for continued Afrocentric storytelling and renewed its demand for climate reparations for the Global South.
Held between 22 and 23 April, the training attracted media professionals and advocates from eight African countries alongside climate experts from Nigeria, Togo, The Gambia, the United States (US), and India.
Organised by MBPP and hosted by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in partnership with Corporate Accountability (CA), the programme focused on equipping journalists with tools to hold polluters accountable and advance environmental justice.
Under the theme “Communicating Climate Change: Realities, Impacts, and the Need for Action,” the event offered in-depth sessions on climate science, environmental politics, and strategic media engagement. Participants were trained to demystify technical jargon and report accurately from an African perspective.
CA’s Managing Director Elvis Méndez delivered a firm call for corporate accountability. “We are living in precarious times,” he said, highlighting the disproportionate power of major corporations and their role in climate degradation.
“Most pollution is generated in the Global North, yet it’s the Global South that suffers the most,” Méndez added.
Dr Nnimmo Bassey, who spoke on climate finance and adaptation, emphasised the historical exploitation of African resources and the compounded impacts on coastal communities.
“For centuries, Africa has been stripped of resources without reaping the benefits,” he said, urging international cooperation to support Africa’s climate resilience efforts. “We must ensure that those most affected are given the support and resources needed to adapt and thrive.”
CAPPA’s Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi stressed the role of journalists in mobilising public opinion and influencing policy. “We need journalists to educate the people, to mount pressure on policymakers and mobilise communities to resist climate destruction,” he said.
Kwami Kpondzo, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice in Togo, addressed the complex implications of carbon markets. He warned that such mechanisms—designed to incentivise emissions reduction—often sideline developing nations and may reinforce inequalities rather than resolve them.
Senior CAPPA programme manager Olamide Martins echoed the urgency for coordinated action. “Our aim is to amplify the voices of Africans and advocate for more significant climate action,” he noted, pointing to the intensified consequences of climate change across the continent.
The second day of the training centred on effective storytelling techniques and countering disinformation. Kristin Salvage, Director of Media and Press at CA, encouraged journalists to prioritise human stories, employ first-person narratives, and focus on community-driven content. “The most important relationship is the actual storytellers,” she said, “making sure that the people are stronger in sharing their stories within their communities.”
Esthappen S., Communications Coordinator at Demand for Climate Justice, warned against the dangers of false narratives. “Accurate journalism is vital to shift public perception and promote informed decision-making,” she said, calling for rigorous verification in the age of viral misinformation.
The event concluded with a charge from Dawda Cham, Deputy Executive Director of Household Disaster Resilience Project (HELP-Gambia), urging participants to return to their organisations and apply the lessons learned in exposing climate realities and advocating for justice.
