The Journalists for Climate Network, thus far made up of 31 Egyptian media professionals, has been formed as part of Egypt’s preparations to host the UN COP27 meeting on climate change in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh from 7 to 18 November, reports Mahmoud Bakr.

The group was launched during a workshop for media professionals concerned with the environment in Ain Sokhna on 15-16 May within the Our Country Hosts COP27 initiative.

The campaign was kick-started by the Arab Office for Youth and Environment, in cooperation with the Arab Network for Environment and Development, the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum, and the Small Enterprises Programme.

The network aims to facilitate communication between media professionals who want to work together to inform the public about the repercussions of climate change, mitigate the effects of the phenomenon, and promote the use of new and renewable energy for adaptation purposes.

It also targets supporting climate action plans and policies, including the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and exploring the availability of media facilities for reporters taking part in COP27.

The group produces a daily newsletter to publicise the local platforms formed in each governorate as part of the Our Country Hosts COP27 initiative. It also provides training for members to boost their skills in covering climate-change issues with the help of experts and academics in the field.

In addition to supporting the participation of its members in international seminars on climate change, the network also sheds light on civil society success stories in addressing the effects of climate change. These may be presented at the Sharm El-Sheikh meeting, with calls also made to finance them.

Members of the Network come from different Egyptian newspapers, satellite TV channels, and news Websites, in addition to experts on climate action from the Arab League. The network will be welcoming new members before or after the COP27 meeting.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 May, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.