Climate Activists at MBPP Training Demand Urgent Climate Reparations for Africa

The Africa Make Big Polluters Pay (MBPP) Coalition recently completed a two-day virtual training for journalists focused on climate change reporting. It emphasized the need for sustained and Afrocentric coverage of the climate crisis.

African nations and the Global South are bearing the brunt of climate change, leading the coalition to renew calls for fair climate reparations. The training, held on April 22-23, gathered 51 climate journalists from eight African countries, along with experts from Nigeria, Togo, The Gambia, the U.S., and India.

The theme, “Communicating Climate Change: Realities, Impacts, and the Need for Action,” reflected the goal of equipping journalists with tools to promote environmental justice. Day one included insights from notable experts, such as Akinbode Oluwafemi from the Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and Dr. Shuaib Bassey from the Health of Mother Earth Foundation. They discussed crucial topics, from climate finance to the stark disparities in contributions to climate change between the Global North and Africa.

Dr. Bassey raised an important point: for centuries, Africa has largely provided resources to the world without receiving adequate benefits. “Climate finance is critical,” he stated, highlighting that tackling climate change involves both mitigation and adaptation strategies. Recent reports indicate that Africa could need up to $300 billion annually by 2030 for climate-related initiatives, showing the considerable gap in funding that exists.

Oluwafemi emphasized the vital role journalists play. “You can educate the public and pressure policymakers to take action,” he said. Journalists are essential in building community awareness and resistance against climate change destruction.

The second day included sessions led by Kristin Salvage from Corporate Accountability and Esttappen S from Demand for Climate Justice. They shared effective communication tactics to help journalists convey impactful messages about climate issues.

In his closing remarks, Dawda Cham from the Household Disaster Resilience Project (HELP-Gambia) encouraged participants to apply what they learned and expose the realities of climate change in their work. Through informed reporting, journalists can help drive the change needed for a sustainable future.

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