PARIS: A new report published by UNESCO on World Press Freedom Day, 3rd May, warned of increasing violence against, and intimidation of journalists reporting on the environment and climate disruption. World Press Freedom Day will be dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.
At least 749 journalists or news media reporting on environmental issues have been attacked in the last 15 years, and online disinformation has surged dramatically in this period. UNESCO called for stronger support for environmental journalists and better governance of digital platforms.
“Without reliable scientific information about the ongoing environmental crisis, we can never hope to overcome it. And yet, the journalists we rely on to investigate this subject and ensure information is accessible face unacceptably high risks all over the world, and climate-related disinformation is running rampant on social media. On World Press Freedom Day, we must r
eaffirm our commitment to defending freedom of expression and protecting journalists worldwide,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
In its new report Press and Planet in Danger, UNESCO analysis revealed instances in which at least 749 journalists and news media outlets reporting on environmental issues were targeted with murder, physical violence, detention and arrest, online harassment or legal attacks in the period 2009-2023. More than 300 attacks occurred between 2019-2023 – a 42% increase on the preceding five-year period (2014-2018).
The report, which will be launched at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference in Santiago, Chile from 2-4 May 2024, stresses that the problem is global, with attacks taking place in 89 countries in all regions of the world.
One of the key outcomes of the World Press Freedom Day Global Conference will be a UNESCO Global Roadmap against Climate Disinformation, identifying the roles governments, the media, academia and researchers, civil society and dig
ital platforms can play to support and protect environmental journalists and promote the integrity of information on the environment and climate change online.
UNESCO’s Director-General will open the Conference alongside Chilean President Gabriel Boric. She will announce the launch of a grants programme to provide legal and technical support to over 500 environmental journalists facing persecution, and new initiatives to promote critical thinking about climate disinformation and to improve the regulation of digital platforms, in line with UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, launched in November last year.
Source: Emirates News Agency