At the UN Conference on Climate Change, 14 international, regional and national press freedom organisations are calling on world leaders to protect environmental journalists and give them access to the information they need to cover climate change and the environment, reports Reporters Without Borders.

With an increasing number of violent attacks on journalists covering
environmental and climate change issues, there is an urgent need for
action. At a press briefing, International Media Support, Reporters Without
Borders, Internews and International Institute for Environment and
Development on behalf of all the signatories presented a call to action
stating:

“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 and urge all governments to
practice transparency in access to information and to protect journalists
reporting on environmental issues and climate change.”

The signing organisations insist 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.

Speaking at the press briefing, Jesper Hojberg, Director of International
Media Support, said: “The media play a key role in engaging the public in
the fight against climate change through their stories and research. Their
work also 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.

If Uzbekistan, Russia, China, Burma or Indonesia, for example, do not
respect the right of their media to inform on such crucial issues, how we
can expect them to really commit to fight climate change?”

James Fahn, Global Director of Internews Earth Journalism Network, added:
“When climate change reporters move into the field and cover illegal
logging and pollution, they face dangers similar to their colleagues
covering the crime beat.”