PACJA Announces the 8th Edition of Africa Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Awards

Kenya, July 6, 2024: The Africa Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Awards have been announced for their eighth edition. Initiated by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) in 2013, these awards recognize exceptional journalism that highlights climate change and environmental issues in Africa. They aim to celebrate journalists who influence public understanding and policy by bringing critical environmental stories to the forefront, fostering awareness, and driving actionable change across the continent.

In his launch speech, Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of PACJA, emphasized the pivotal role that brave climate change and environmental reports have played since the inaugural edition. These reports have influenced policies and conversations through accurate, concise, and fact-based reporting.

“Each iteration of the awards has built upon the last, pushing the boundaries of what it means to excel in reporting on climate change and strategically positioning African media to advance narratives on climate change,” stressed Dr. Mithika.

This year’s theme, ‘Advancing for Accountability in Climate Finance for Climate Justice and Equity,’ invites journalists to investigate the management and allocation of climate finance. Julius Karanja Mbatia from ACT Alliance underscored the urgency amid unprecedented climate impacts, stating, “Climate Finance remains the singular solution that needs unequivocal addressing in Africa. We want stories that reveal how much money reaches climate finance at various levels and highlight the substantial gap in meeting climate finance pledges made by the Global North a decade ago.”

Since its inception in 2013, the ACCER Awards have received over 7,600 applications from across Africa and recognized 112 recipients from 33 countries. The inaugural edition led to the formation of the Pan African Media Alliance for Climate Change (PAMACC), fostering extensive coverage of climate change-related stories, raising awareness, and supporting cross-learning and capacity development facilitated by PACJA.

The ACCER Awards 2024 will be presented during ceremonies in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on the sidelines of the 12th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA XII). The awards will recognize winners across seven categories, including Best Climate Change Coverage in Print Media, Best Climate Change Coverage in Broadcast Media, Best Investigative Journalism on Climate Change, Best Opinion/Commentary on Climate Change, Best Coverage of Local Climate Change Issues, Best Use of Data in Climate Change Reporting, Young Digital Activists, and Emerging Digital Voices.

For further details and interview arrangements, please contact Mr. Fidele NIYIGABA, Communications and Knowledge Management Manager, via Email: fidele.niyigaba@pacja.org, Tel: +254743236888 Evelyne Wandaka- Communications Officer via Email: Evelyne.wandaka@pacja.org Tel: +254 706632050