Climate Change in Africa: A Guidebook for Journalists

This book was produced for journalists and editors, as well as teachers and trainers of journalists, to support improved media coverage of climate change in Africa. According to the publication, climate change poses a clear danger to lives and livelihoods across Africa. Journalists have critical roles to play in explaining the cause and effects of climate change, in describing what countries and communities can do to adapt to the impacts ahead, and in reporting on what governments and companies do, or do not do, to respond to these threats. The authors note that while this book was not designed to cover everything about climate change, it should enable journalists to understand all of the key concepts, report on climate change effectively, and find more information and interviewees.

The book consists for the following parts:

• Part One presents general knowledge that every journalist needs in order to report on climate change.
• Part Two provides greater detail on different aspect of the impacts of climate change in Africa.
• Part Three covers ways to limit climate change and adapt to its effects.
• Part Four explains how governments are enacting policies and plans at national, regional, and global levels, to deal with climate change.
• Part Five provides tips and advice to help journalists improve their reporting.
• Part Six presents some additional reference material and sources of information.

The authors of this guide represent organisations that have trained hundreds of journalists around the world to report more effectively on climate change. They consulted 44 journalists from 17 African countries and 38 climate change specialists, who provided their insights into what was missing from African media coverage and how this book should help to fill those gaps. Since the way media covers climate change will affect how well societies deal with the problem, African journalists will become increasingly important to the global response to climate change. As climate change takes hold, people will demand information about what is happening and what they and their governments can do about it.