African Media unite to tackle climate disinformation
The event: Fighting Climate Disinformation: Information Integrity for Climate Change and the Role of African Media, was hosted by Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), in partnership with the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF), the Forum on Information and Democracy (FID), the International Press Institute (IPI), and BrandSA.
It highlighted how, as the impacts of climate change intensify, the spread of falsehoods and misleading narratives is undermining public understanding, delaying the urgent action needed to protect vulnerable communities.
Also read: Parktown North comedian Costa Carastavrakis brings new show to Melrose Arch
Speakers warned that Africa, already affected by climate change, cannot afford to lose the truth battle. AI and disinformation campaigns have created an information crisis that risks policy, public trust, and resilience. There's an urgent call for African journalists to challenge false narratives and explore the 'why' behind stories, especially regarding corporate greenwashing and manipulation.
The dialogue highlighted the importance of youth empowerment through media literacy, noting that young people with critical thinking skills are less susceptible to misinformation. Many, however, struggle to evaluate climate information, leading to emotional reactions and disconnection.
The discussion stressed the need for integrating climate education and digital literacy in schools, while encouraging civil society and businesses to fund community workshops that promote informed engagement.
Also read: The G20 audiovisual advert highlights solidarity, equality, and sustainability
The event highlighted the G20's growing recognition of information integrity as crucial to climate justice, with Brazil spearheading initiatives in this area. Panellists emphasised that social media platforms must take greater responsibility in combating harmful content, calling for increased support for journalists facing harassment when investigating environmental issues.
They concluded that truthful storytelling is essential for achieving climate justice, as the media's role extends beyond informing, to inspiring action, with each accurate report contributing to the protection of the planet and public trust.
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