This project will reach broadly throughout Asia and the Pacific region; targeting environmental hotspots affected by climate change with activities that include training opportunities for individuals, grants for organizations, Fellowships to international conferences, technology development and support for the production of media content. They are expected to result in increased access to environmental news and information; improved environmental content; greater inclusion of women, youth and indigenous groups; and more engagement among journalists and between them and other stakeholders active in the region.

“This support for boosting media coverage in Asia and Pacific is incredibly timely, given the challenges facing the region due to climate and environmental change, and the opportunities presented by growing economies and audiences,” said EJN Executive Director James Fahn. “We’re looking forward to working with new and existing partners in the region to help provide environmental news, data and information where it is needed most.”

Trusted, clear, timely and actionable information is needed to address vulnerabilities associated with climate change and other environmental challenges. Yet, those who strive to communicate locally relevant information are challenged by the complexity of forces driving environmental changes.

Concurrent global forces—such as climate change, regional development, global trade, and the diffusion of information technology—intersect with a vast diversity of human conditions at the local level. The ways in which communities experience the impacts of climate change is tightly linked to the sources of their livelihood, the circumstances of their location, and the ages, origins, genders, and identities of a communities’ members..

Asia and the Pacific face significant challenges mitigating and adapting to climate change, and managing natural resources in a just and sustainable way. This four-year project aims to improve capacity for media outlets to promote greater accountability for the social impacts of environmental change and improve sustainable development through the increased inclusion of particularly vulnerable and often marginalized communities.

EJN is primed to scale up and mobilize its membership through the generation of opportunities which link a diversity of stakeholders to connect people and groups working on environmental issues throughout the region. By improving capacity among local and regional actors to provide quality socio-environmental information, people will be empowered to make better decisions about their options and build their resilience.  

(Banner photo: credit Swedish International Development Agency)