Media perceptions of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study was conducted to understand how climate change is perceived in the media in Sub-Saharan Africa. Media, as a source of information, plays a leading role in raising public awareness and understanding of climate change and its impacts across communities and nations. The study reflects on how journalists from different countries in the region often frame and report on climate change issues under varied contexts.

The study finds evidence that coverage mostly fails to explore the full range of issues critical for facilitating informed choice and adequate policy responses. It recommends three main actions to strengthen media coverage of climate change in Africa:

• Strengthening the capacities of African media to cover climate change;
• Improving journalists' access to credible and diverse sources of information, including scientific knowledge;
• Scaling up the financing for climate change coverage.