Enhancing reporting capabilities on air pollution issues in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Background

Recent studies on air pollution issues indicate South Asia to be a hotspot. This becomes more alarming considering that the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) – the water tower of Asia – lies within this region and given the transboundary nature of air pollution, which accelerates glacier and snow melting. These pollutants often reach alarming levels with far-reaching consequences on the environment and public health, disrupting social wellbeing. In this context, air pollution issues have caught the attention of the general public, policy makers, and researchers, but there still lies a disconnect in the understanding of this issue by each of the stakeholders. Herein comes the critical role of the environmental journalists in the region and the globe.

The importance of environmental journalism

Environmental journalists are burdened with the daunting task of understanding the scientific and policy aspects of air pollution issues and conveying it to the public to build awareness. In a way, this also creates significant pressure on the policy makers to address such burning issues in a timely manner.

Environmental journalists try to reach different segments of our society through their writings on pressing environmental issues and appropriate responses. It is therefore extremely important that they are well versed in the science behind different air pollution issues so that they can convey the same in a lucid manner to the public. Very often, the lack of coordination among environmental journalists and researchers/policy makers dampens accurate and impactful reporting. Hence, it is necessary to provide appropriate environmental and scientific training to environmental journalists to create communication pathways that reach out to and connect all stakeholders involved in air pollution mitigation.

Accordingly, ICIMOD is organizing this training to foster better understanding of the scientific aspect of air pollution issues and ways to communicate science in an impactful manner.

Objectives

This training is targeted at around 10–15 environmental journalists from HKH countries to support them with proper scientific trainings and enhance communication pathways for impactful reporting. This would also support ICIMOD’s efforts as a regional organization to create awareness at different levels in the HKH region.

Agenda

Day 1: Thursday, 3 December 2020

Day 2 – Friday, 4 December 2020

Register here