Claudie Iikela

1. Claudie Iikela REPORTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE Challenges for African Public Service Broadcasters September 2009

2. Climate Change in Africa Situation analysis • Climate change is one of the main threats to sustainable development • It impacts on economy, health, food security • In some African countries it has resulted in tribal conflicts and even civil wars • Rising sea levels, droughts and floods have become synonymous with Africa • No formal reliable systems are in place to help educate our citizens to adopt to the changing environment

3. Climate Change in Africa Role of PSB • To educate the public on the impact their actions have on the environment • To inform on sustainable use of natural recourses • To give them the necessary information that can help them adapt to the changed environment. • To interpret pre warning climate data in a language they understand to be better prepared.

4. THE NAMIBIAN CASE STUDY • Geographical location • A vast sparsely populated country • 825 thousand km2 • The oldest desert in the world , the Namib stretches along the whole western coast. • The Kalahari desert runs along the south eastern border with Botswana

5. THE NAMIBIAN CASE STUDY • Weather pattern • Very hot , and for the most part very dry • Rain falls during the summer months ( Nov to Feb) • Insignificant winter showers may result in occasional snowfall in the south. • In general the rain falls are extremely unreliable • Desertification is the biggest environmental threat

6. THE NAMIBIAN CASE STUDY Rainfall Variability

7. THE NAMIBIAN CASE STUDY • Temperatures & rainfall average

8. THE NAMIBIAN CASE STUDY • Population • 2 million ( 2004 census) • Namibia still a rural society • Only 33% of the population live in urban areas • Total adult literacy rate is 88%

9. Climate Change reporting • The NBC • A single television channel mainly broadcasting in English • Radio has ten stations broadcasting in 10 main local languages. ( Namibia has more than 100 languages/dialects ) • TV has 2 indigenous bulletins every day. • Our weather report is prepared by the met office.

10. Climate Change reporting • Challenges • No readily available data and weather information • No specialized weather and environmental reporters to interpret climate data • Diversified audience • English terms v/s indigenous ones • Even recourse persons are hard to find. • Ignorance and negative attitude towards climate change. ( a foreign /European problem) • Poverty : people worry more about where to get their next meal.

11. Climate Change reporting Challenges cont… • The ability of reporters to break down climate change information to the level of a lay man. • Our reports are more on facts and fail to highlight the causes and prevention of the problem • Limited network coverage : not able to reach all • Lack of basic facilities in rural areas to receive our signal

12. Climate Change reporting • Way forward • Training of reporters to interpret weather data into simple language, useful to the viewer. • Have access to important information for early warning system • Improve on regional integrated information systems • Introduce regular programs on climate change • Awareness campaigns through radio and television • Improve on weather reporting