Media organisations participating in the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change have called for protection to environmental journalists in the line of their duties. Around 24 international, regional and national press freedom organisations at the UN Conference on Climate Change have also called upon the world leaders to give environmental journalists proper access to the information they need to cover climate change and the environment.
"With an increasing number of violent attacks on journalists covering environmental and climate change issues, there is an urgent need for action," stated International Media Support, Reporters Without Borders, Internews and International Institute for Environment and Development at a press briefing, on behalf of all the signatories.
"Media and press freedom organisations call on the world's leaders to reaffirm their pledge to Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that urge all governments to practice transparency in access to information and to protect journalists reporting on environmental issues and climate change," media organisations jointly stated at the briefing.
The signing organisations insisted that the media must be free to report on environmental issues if the world is to address the challenge of climate change. By serving as a watchdog on recalcitrant governments, the media expose the corruption, nepotism and negligence that obstruct efforts to protect the environment.
"Journalists are also crucial in efforts to raise awareness and meet the Rio Declaration's objective of engaging and involving the general public in decision-making," said Jesper Hojberg, Director of International Media Support. He said the media play a key role in engaging the public in the fight against climate change through their stories and research and their work helps to maintain pressure on governments to keep their promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Vincent Brossel, Head of the Asia Desk of Reporters Without Borders, said some country delegations here in Copenhagen should explain why in their respective countries, journalists and activists investigating environmental issues are jailed, beaten, threatened or censored.
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