Jakarta—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent organisation that promotes press freedom worldwide, recently announced an initiative to ensure the safety of journalists covering climate issues, the group said in a statement on Monday, September 23.
The Climate Crisis Journalist Protection Initiative, unveiled by CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg during the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting, will provide crucial support, including safety training and financial assistance to climate reporters globally.
With nearly a third already raised towards a $1 million goal, this initiative seeks to address the escalating risks journalists report on the climate crisis face. “Journalists probe political corruption and the organized crime networks exploiting natural resources. They report on environmental devastation and the innovations and policies to stop it,” Ginsberg stated at the event. “Such reporting is becoming increasingly dangerous. Climate change is the issue of our time and one that requires journalists to be able to report freely and safely. This initiative will help ensure that.”
The initiative will offer a range of supports, such as mental health assistance and dedicated safety workshops, via an emergency fund tailored to journalists’ needs. It also aims to enhance CPJ’s ability to identify global hotspots where journalists are at great risk, and to work with the private sector to ensure journalists can report without obstacles or retaliation.
Recent statistics from UNESCO highlight the urgency of this initiative: between 2009 and 2023, at least 749 journalists reporting on environmental issues were targeted through various forms of violence and harassment. The past five years alone have seen a 42% increase in such attacks compared to the previous five years.
In addition to providing immediate assistance, CPJ has a long history of supporting journalists facing crises. Since 2001, its journalist assistance program has offered emergency grants, and just last year, CPJ aided 719 journalists from 59 countries.
The Climate Crisis Journalist Protection Initiative continues this legacy and adapts it to meet the specific challenges posed by climate reporting. The initiative was introduced during a CGI session on journalist safety in crises, featuring dignitaries, including former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The Clinton Global Initiative, founded by US President Bill Clinton in 2005, brings together global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. (nsh)
