Press freedom: Somali journalists identify climate change as new threat

Somali journalists have listed climate change as a new threat that could potentially harm their work and that of their country, adding to a list of challenges they already face.

To mark World Press Freedom Day, the journalists under their lobby, the National Union of Somali Journalists, on Saturday released a ‘declaration’ which will guide their work and help contribute to combating climate change.

The World Press Freedom Day is marked annually on May 3 according to the United Nations General Assembly. This year, World Press Freedom Day was dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

After a two-day Symposium supported by the US Embassy in Somalia, the journalists released a document which calls for enhanced standards of journalism on environmental issues in Somalia including nurturing collaborative efforts and fostering connections between media outlets and government agencies “to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and resources among journalists, environmental experts and policymakers.”

“This collaborative endeavour is essential to elevate the quality of climate and environmental reporting and to advance the professional skills of journalists,” the declaration released after the symposium says.

“Accordingly, we urge all actors and stakeholders to engage in providing training programmes that focus on essential journalistic skills, investigative techniques, environmental science and data interpretation, aimed at augmenting the effectiveness and impact of their reporting.”

Climate change, they admitted adds to the existing risks journalists in Somalia face, including physical threats, economic hardships, unstable political environment, psychological burdens and legal problems as well as digital threats from trolls.

In a country where militants have targeted journalists, including forcing some into exile, climate change could mean their safety is not even guaranteed.

“We advocate for the implementation of stronger safety measures and legal protections to secure our well-being and ensure our freedom to report without fear of violence or persecution,” they said.

The declaration came out of a workshop to mark the World Press Freedom Day, usually marked every May 3 since 1993 after the UN identified media freedom as crucial to advancing democracy.

Read: Press freedom is near yet far; time to turn the tide

This year, the global theme is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,” highlighting the crucial role of journalism in navigating and addressing the environmental challenges confronting the globe today.

In Somalia, the Symposium, on Thursday and Friday, saw journalists, diplomats and senior government officials converge in Mogadishu to discuss the challenge of reporting climate change. It also featured representatives from civil society, USAID and the UNSOM Human Rights Group.

Omar Faruk Osman, the NUSOJ Secretary General, said Somalia’s situation has often meant journalists over the years face “serious and deadly attacks by perpetrators who often enjoy impunity and encounter professional challenges” that hinder proper reporting. 

“The pressing climate calamities as well as environmental crises we face means journalism undeniably stands as a formidable force for raising awareness, fostering adaptation and driving mitigation efforts,” added Osman.
The diplomats included Shane Dixon, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Somalia; Mike Nithavrianakis, British Ambassador to Somalia; and Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of ATMIS, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.

Government officials included the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi the Minister for Education, Culture and Higher Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir and  Minister for Information and Tourism, Daud Aweis Jama.
The journalists in Somalia hope that proper access to correct and timely information about climate change can help spread awareness, as the public tends to follow what media outlets report.

But they also hope it will bring about positive political will.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing said that the climate crisis affects the lives of millions in Somalia. At least 4 million people are displaced by recent drought and floods in the country.

“Much more needs to be done to raise awareness of all aspects of the environmental crisis and journalism is indispensable for this purpose,” she said in a statement to mark Press Freedom Day in Mogadishu.

“For Somalia to achieve its goals of stability and sustainable development, it is necessary for journalists to report accurately, timely, and comprehensively on environmental issues and their consequences, as well as on possible solutions,” she added.

In Somalia, she said, there is a need to help the public understand how climate-induced shocks intersect with fundamental human rights such as the right to life, health and access food and clean water.

Additional Reporting by Aggrey Mutambo