Ahead of the maiden World Decarbonisation Day scheduled for September 3 and 4, 2025 in Abuja, speakers at the Pre-World Decarbonisation Conference have charged the media on the need to ensure sustained reportage on compelling stories that would drive the message towards reducing carbon pollution in the environment.
Attended by experts in environmental protection, and with the theme, ‘Media for the Planet: The Role of Journalism & Storytelling in Driving Decarbonization’, they highlighted the place of media and storytelling in bringing the issues of environmental pollution to the public, with emphasis on giving same a human face.
While delivering his words, Mr Olumide Idowu, a climate activist and development advocate, emphasised the place of journalism and storytelling in driving decarbonisation.
“Media needs to inform the public for action on decarbonisation,” he said.
“Journalists help to shape public perception and they should help to tell the true story about the environment, especially the environmental degradation as it happens in the Niger Delta Region,” said Olumide, who is also the co-founder of International Climate Change Dev. Initiative. UNDP Youth Focal Point Nigeria.
He further charged the media to give priority attention to climate change stories in order to drive the narrative down to all parts of the country, especially the grassroots.
On his own, Engineer Desmond Majekodunmi, the founder of LUFASI Nature Park and a board member of the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), said carbon pollution will have negative transnational effects on the future generation if it is not contained.
Engr. Majekodunmi noted that there is a huge responsibility on the media to report environmental issues because of the effects of climate change. He noted that the environment is life support to humans, regretting that whatever is giving to the environment is what it brings back, saying through pollution, there is the tendency that nature would fight back.
Consequently, he called for compelling stories that would bring to the fore the actual effects of climate change from the journalists.
Mrs Toyin Yusuff of Women In Energy, Oil & Gas also harped on the importance of media advocacy, charging Nigeria to take the lead in decarbonisation. She said the country cannot decarbonise behind closed doors.
“Media must report the issue the way it is,” she said.
“We need the media to champion the storytelling on climate change and opportunities.
“We want the government to adopt the World Decarbonisation Day; also the National Assembly should come up with a legislation on World Decarbonisation Day and we call on international community to also recognise it,” she said
She said the media should be at the forefront of championing the course of ridding the environment of carbon pollution.
Engr. Tolu Longe, the National President of Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG), with nearly three decades in Nigeria’s energy sector and roles in Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), also highlighted the imperative of decarbonisation, calling on the media to be at the forefront of the advocacy.
Engr. Longe is known for championing women’s leadership and inclusion in energy transition policy and practice.
Meanwhile, the moderator: Funke Adesoji, Environment Correspondent and television producer/presenter, urged the media to also report the positive sides of the environment in their compelling stories.