By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has raised the alarm that the doomsday clock is ticking, bringing humanity closer and closer to a “triple whammy”.
This according to him, may ultimately seal all our fate even as he convincingly said that if we work together, if the freedom of press is promoted and if our journalists comes fully on board deploying their reports as climate actions we will save our cherished planet earth for ourselves and generations to come.
Speaking at the Radio House in Abuja over the weekend at the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), organized in conjunction with the Ministry of Information, he said: “As we gather here today to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day in our country, I am deeply honoured to address you all, not just as the Minister of State for Environment, but as a passionate advocate for the healthy preservation of our planet and a worker in the stewardship of the earth.
The 2024 theme: “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,” cannot be coming at a better time as the world grabbles with the greatest threat to our existence, the triple environmental crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, he added.
The theme, according to him, resonates loudly with the challenges we face and the responsibilities we all hold as stewards of planet earth, adding that environmental crisis has become so intense, so gargantuan that it is at the core of most of the challenges been faced by humanity.
In our country as in other parts of the world, it is a central culprit in loss of lives and property through disasters, accentuation of poverty, food insecurity, arm conflicts, loss of livelihoods, public health challenges displacement and so on.
Salako, reiterated that the press and journalists constitutes the framework for informing, educating, stimulating discussion, mobilizing and setting agenda for the public who are the employers of government.
He said: “A press for the planet at this point in time is therefore most needed if we are to get the public behind global and national agenda like net zero, energy transition, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, 30 by 30, ending plastic pollution and such other pathways set forth to address the environmental crisis.
“At the forefront of our efforts to combat the environmental crisis in our country are Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), our Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy, our commitment to achieving net zero emissions and our framework for biodiversity conservation.
“These commitments outline our path towards sustainability, emphasizing the need for collaborative action, innovation, and accountability. They represent the unwavering dedication of Nigeria to play her part in mitigating climate change and safeguarding the health of our planet for future generations.”
The Ministry, he said is promoting nature based solutions through tree planting, mangrove restoration, urban greening and restoring wetlands.
“We are promoting the adoption of more environmentally friendly energy sources including clean cook stoves, working hard to end gas-flaring and plastic pollution, remediating oil polluted communities, expanding our protected areas, addressing desertification, drought, flooding and erosion.
“In doing this, we are fully in tune with the inclusivity agenda of President Bola Tinubu which is a key pillar in the eight-point presidential priority.
“Recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic issues, we understand that sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing the needs of all members of society.
“By promoting inclusivity, we ensure that no one is left behind in our journey towards a greener, more prosperous Nigeria.
“Environmental degradation exacerbates resource scarcity, heightens social tensions, and undermines stability.” He added.
By addressing environmental degradation which promote unhealthy competition for scarce resources, the Minister, added: “We can create not just a more resilient society, we will in fact be cutting off a vital driver of the insecurity currently being faced in our country.
“As we commemorate World Press Freedom Day, I call on us to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of a free and independent press, a sine qua non for effective climate journalism.
“Press freedom is indispensable to promote transparency, accountability and social justice, critical to communicating the threat posed by climate crisis and making informed decisions to be more environmentally responsible.
“You as journalists have a critical role to play in driving environmental policy formulation and implementation and also in shaping public perception about the crisis. Let us therefore work together, across sectors and borders, to harness the power of media in addressing the environmental crisis and advancing sustainable development.
On role of journalism, he said: “Journalism plays a pivotal role in advancing environmental agendas, serving as a catalyst for change, a watchdog for accountability, and a voice for the voiceless. Through investigative reporting, insightful analysis, and compelling storytelling, journalists shed light on the pressing issues of environmental crisis facing our nation and inspire mass action towards positive change.
“Without such mass actions, we will be unable to win the fight against the environmental challenges confronting our country.
“Ignorance, lack of awareness and appropriate knowledge about the climate crisis is still rampant in our society. Let me therefore in closing call upon you our dear friends in the media for more support in our drive for environmental advocacy and citizenship so that all creatures on earth thrives in harmony with the planet.”
On exacerbation of environmental crisis, he explained: “We know that our behaviour and life styles is driving environmental crisis. We also know that changing behaviour and life style is not easy to achieve.
“Therefore, we must remain persistent in our advocacy, our awareness creation, our sensitization and educating the public.
The DG of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay, in her remark, raised the alarm that the planet is on the brink of a climatic precipice, stressing that 2023 was the hottest year on record, with an average global surface temperature 1.45°C higher than in the pre-industrial era.
She said: Other alarming records were also broken for ocean surface temperatures, sea level rise and glacier retreat
As humanity faces up to this existential peril, we must remember, on this WPFD that the climate challenge is also a journalistic and informational challenge.
No effective climate action is possible without access to free and reliable scientific information.
“That is why this year’s theme highlights the essential link between protecting freedom of expression – a global public good – and preserving our planet.
“But this World Day is also a call to action to protect journalism and free, pluralistic
Information. A call to make the major social networks more accountable, so that they can step up their moderation and regulation measures to counter disinformation and conspiracy around climate change, in line with the Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms published by UNESCO in November 2023.
“A call to equip all citizens with the critical thinking skills needed to confront disinformation. A call, also, to protect journalists and media professionals, artists and scientists, who are all too often the victims of harassment, violence and censorship.”
According to the DG, a UNESCO study published this month shows that 70% of environmental reporters have been the victims of attacks, threats or pressure because of their work, and 44 environmental journalists have been killed in the last 15 years.
She said: “Access to reliable information is all the more vital in this “super-election year”, when some 2.6 billion citizens are called to the polls. How can voters remain masters of their own destiny if their choices are distorted by false information and polarized by hate speech?
“In this context, UNESCO remains firmly committed to defending freedom of expression as a fundamental human right and a pillar of democracy. That is why we defend journalists and train them in safety, including in crisis situations such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan and Haiti.
“At the same time, we have trained thousands of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the issues surrounding freedom of expression, because they are the key players. “Over the next few weeks, we will also be launching initiatives specifically dedicated to the environment, to provide environmental journalists with greater protection and to strengthen media education and information on the major social networks.
“On 3 May this year, UNESCO would like to relay a simple message: protecting free and pluralistic information also means protecting our democracies and our planet.”
In his remark, the Minister of Information, Mr. Mohammed Idris, said Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource depletion are not abstract concepts; they are harsh realities that demand immediate and decisive action.
According to him, it in the face of this crisis, journalists emerge as guardians of truth and champions of accountability. They illuminate environmental injustices, expose wrongdoing, and amplify the voices of those most affected by environmental degradation.
He said: “Through their investigative reporting, they hold governments and corporations accountable for their actions and advocate for policies that promote sustainability and safeguard our planet.
“This year’s theme resonates deeply with our ministry’s vision and President Bola Tinubu’s priority areas, which prioritize restoring trust, reorienting national values, and creating an enabling environment for the media. It underscores the crucial role of journalism in addressing the environmental crisis.