Getting the Message Across: Reporting on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: A Handbook for Journalists

"This book responds to a very real need of journalists reporting of the complex phenomenon of climate change and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. Climate change poses a clear danger to lives and livelihoods across Asia and the Pacific...Journalists [in Africa - see related summary below]] have critical roles to play in explaining the cause and effects of climate change, in describing what countries and communities can do to adapt to the impacts ahead, and in reporting on what governments and companies do, or do not do, to respond to these threats. Yet research on public understanding of climate change and surveys of journalists reveal that across Asia and the Pacific, the media can and should do more to tell the story of climate change and sustainable development. UNESCO produced this book to help fill this important gap."


This book from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is designed as a customised resource for journalists in Asia and the Pacific. It introduces "essentials" about climate change from why it matters, including injustices of impact and the vulnerability of climate change negotiations, prompting a climate justice movement, to why media coverage matters and what is the story. It covers what is missing in media coverage and gives tips on talking to climate change skeptics. Each section is accompanied by sample stories and case studies.

The book is divided into:

• "Part One presents general knowledge that every journalist needs in order to report on climate  change
• Part Two provides greater detail on different aspects of the impacts of climate change in Asia and the Pacific
• Part Three covers ways to limit climate change and adapt to its effects
• Part Four explains how governments are enacting policies and plans at national, regional and global levels to deal with climate change
• Part Five provides tips and advice to help journalists improve their reporting
• Part Six presents some additional reference material and sources of information"

The informational sections open with "10 Things every journalist should know about climate change and sustainable development" - what we know, differences between climate and weather, effects of human activity, impacts, mitigation and adaptation, and climate change story-telling and various historic agreements.

The in-depth view chapter goes more deeply into the effects of emissions on the region and how the planet is warming and what that looks like in the region, especially in agriculture and food production. Financial impacts and mitigation are discussed.

Solutions in chapter three look at REDD+, "a global initiative designed to pay developing countries for protecting their forests and reducing emissions of greenhouse gas pollutants, especially CO₂", in Asia and the Pacific. Case studies are included, for example, Thailand’s Ministry of Energy renewable power initiative 2015-2036.

Part Four discusses international treaties as part of the history of seeking solutions beginning with Conferences of Parties (COPs), leading to and beyond the Kyoto Protocol and followed by a series of yearly COPs. Mitigations and intergovernmental actions are described, along with leadership in the region by country.

Reporting on climate change is discussed in detail in Part Five. It addresses: immediate strategies for better stories; reporting in local languages; and human rights, cultural, gender, migration, security, adaptation and REDD+ dimensions of climate change in the region. Tips and questions for reporting specific topics are given with sources for garnering more information. Topics include: climate change and health; international climate change negotiations; scientific research on climate change; and risk. Sourcing and using data, photos, videos, maps, and graphics are described as part of making good stories. Part Six is a reference section of key drivers and country-by-country information.