The Government of Mauritius has reaffirmed its solidarity with African countries in the fight against the climate crisis, stressing that climate change knows no borders and that no country is immune to its consequences.
Speaking at the opening session of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) and UNESCO Media Development Workshop in Mauritius, the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, H.E. Mr Rajesh Anand Bhagwan, said that every effort to strengthen journalists’ capacity to report effectively on climate change and disaster risks is critical.
He noted that journalists give voice to the realities of African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and have the power to turn awareness into action. They witness both the devastation and the determination that characterise climate struggles around the world.
“In difficult times, they raise public awareness of threats, shed light on risks and give our people the information they need to prepare, adapt and thrive, while holding those in power accountable. When disasters occur, they play an essential role in disseminating early warnings and encouraging public participation in response and recovery processes,” he said.
Minister Bhagwan added that for African SIDS, climate change is not a distant theory but a rising tide. Every cyclone, drought, rainfall event and landslide reminds communities that the cost of inaction is unbearable. Building journalists’ capacity is therefore essential because they continue to carry out a life-saving mission during disasters.
Reflecting on the importance of the programme, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles Lisa Simrique Singh said African SIDS are on the frontline of the climate crisis, facing rising sea levels, stronger cyclones and prolonged droughts that threaten lives, livelihoods and ecosystems.
She stressed that timely access to information during crises can save lives, protect infrastructure, strengthen resilience, facilitate rescue operations, shorten emergency response times and support effective recovery and reconstruction.
She also recalled that UNESCO and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) play leading roles in promoting global best practices in media development and disaster-risk communication. Both agencies have championed press freedom, ethical standards and risk communication as essential components of resilience-building.
Singh said UNESCO’s longstanding relationship with AUB in media development, training and freedom of expression provides a strong foundation for professional excellence and social responsibility in journalism. UNDRR, for its part, provides global frameworks, technical expertise and best practices in risk-based communication and early warning systems, enabling media institutions to act quickly and credibly in times of crisis.
AUB Director General Mr Grégoire Ndjaka praised participants from four Small Island Developing States — Comoros, Cabo Verde, Mauritius and São Tomé and Príncipe — for completing all phases of the programme, including online training, cross-border co-production, preparation of an Institutional Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan and the in-person workshop in Mauritius.
He emphasised that broadcasters have the power to shape narratives and drive action. Through accurate, compassionate and solutions-oriented reporting, media can help communities prepare, adapt and thrive in the face of climate and environmental challenges.
Ndjaka thanked UNESCO and UNDRR for their continued partnership and the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for its collaboration, adding that AUB is working to build a continental model of climate and disaster communication that not only informs, but also inspires action and hope.
Other speakers, including UNESCO Regional Adviser for Communication and Information in Africa Ms Misako Ito and Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation Chairman Mr Amaresh Ramlugun, also highlighted how the media can act not only as observers of the climate crisis, but as agents of awareness, preparedness and resilience.
This workshop represents the final phase of the AUB–UNESCO Media Development Programme, which began with online training sessions, cross-border co-production among participating countries and the drafting of institutional disaster preparedness and response plans.
