Faced with the urgency of acting to adapt to climate change, Inades-Formation and the Coalition for the Protection of African Genetic Heritage (COPAGEN) have brought together actors from civil society, government and the press for exchanges and training on climate change in Côte d’Ivoire. It was on September 6 and 7, 2022 in Abidjan.
The forecasts on the consequences of climate change for the world and particularly for Africa are alarming. These consequences are already present and are manifested by the disruption of the seasons, the irregularity of rainfall, drought, floods, changes in sea temperatures, etc., and all their consequences.
Agriculture, including fishing, especially artisanal fishing, is already suffering from these consequences.
To help the public to become fully aware of this phenomenon that endangers the future of the earth, COPAGEN and Inades-Formation have organized a day of reflection, sharing of experiences and training on the problems posed by climate change in the field of agriculture and artisanal fisheries followed by a training session for men and women of the media.
The objective of these meetings is to to contribute to raising awareness of the problems posed by climate change particularly in the agricultural and artisanal fisheries sectors, and more specifically to inform and raise awareness among the population, to question decision-makers on the problems posed by climate change and to to strengthen the capacities of men and women of the media on this issue, which is of great importance.
As Mr. Sena Kwaku Adessou, Secretary General of Inades-Formation, said, “it is important to create spaces for debate around the issue to facilitate the dissemination of information and create synergies of action around the climate issue.
The two meetings were held on September 6 and 7, 2022 at Inades-Formation.
The first day, a day of reflection and exchange, brought together members of civil society, organizations of agricultural producers, artisanal fisheries, NGOs, representatives of ministries in charge of agriculture, environment, and national education.
The discussions focused on the causes of climate change and its effects on the agricultural sector but also on artisanal fishing in Côte d’Ivoire. Participants were able to see, for example, the ravages of coastal erosion, mainly in places like Grand Lahou.
The day of September 7 was dedicated to journalists and media men and women.
About twenty journalists from the written, audio, audiovisual and online press of Côte d’Ivoire met in the premises of Inades-Formation to learn more about climate change, exchange their knowledge on the subject and identify courses of action for a better contribution to the fight.
Through a game of questioning, participants and facilitators confronted their knowledge to reinforce each other. From the basic question of “what is climate change?” to the commitment question “what action to be taken by the media?” through more technical questions on the vision enshrined in the Climate Policy in Côte d’Ivoire, participants were able to deepen their knowledge on climate change, its realities, governmental and global actions, before arriving at various suggestions for action to contribute to the fight against this phenomenon.
Among these proposals, of course, are the need to produce publications on the realities of climate change, to establish a platform of journalists committed to the issue, to multiply the initiative of this training, to accompany COPAGEN and Inades-Formation in their fight through writing about their actions, etc.
At the end of the day, the journalists did not
fail to express their satisfaction, as Marina Konan, a journalist at Media Diversity, testifies with these statements: ” This is a great initiative. And we encourage organizations to increase the number of such trainings, which allow us to better understand such issues “.
Emmanuel Kouassi, journalist at connectionivoirienne.net, thanks the organizers of this training day, because he says ” the issue of climate change involves the future of humanity. Our role as journalists is to relay the voice of the experts on this issue. I therefore pledge, at the end of this training, to take up my pen and my microphone to engage in this fight, because it is the future of humanity “.
Sikeli Jean Paul, Executive Secretary of the COPAGEN also says he is fully satisfied with these two days of exchange, whose expectations were met, including, spurring the consciences of participants on the issue of climate change.
” I would hope that this will trigger action to curb the climate crisis…It’s quite alarming. It is a reality and not a utopia as some would believe. It’s time to act “will conclude Mr. Sikeli Jean-Paul.
These meetings were supported by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA).
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Marcelle Achi Moroh, Communication Inades-Formation – General Secretariat
