On March 07, 2013, the Ministry of Information organized a Media Training on Climate Change under a close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and with the support from the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance. The opening ceremony was attended by approximately 120 participants including representatives from Government institutions, Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations, Academia and media. It was presided over by H.E Dr. Mok Mareth, Senior Minister, Minister of Environment, H.E Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information and Ms. Anne Hoglund, the Swedish Ambassador to Cambodia. The aim of the workshop is to raise climate change awareness among Cambodian journalists to deeply and precisely understand of climate change terminology, the concept of causes and effects, and key mechanisms in responding to this challenged issue.
A recent study by the Ministry of Environment reveals a limited understanding about climate change among Cambodian public; therefore, to deal with climate change issue in Cambodia as well as helping people to reduce their vulnerability still meet obstacles. “Cambodian public awareness about climate change is still limited so it poses a great challenge in engaging people to effectively respond to climate change.” said H.E Mok Market in the opening remarks for the Media Training.
This finding has contributed to engaging the Ministry of Information to play a key role in disseminating climate change related information since a majority of Cambodian, significantly the community people, relies on mass media as the sources of their information. H.E Mok Market addressed in his opening remarks that “The Ministry of Information and other relevant ministries have significant roles in receiving and disseminating climate change related information to the public by maintaining the accuracy, usefulness and timeliness.”
Addressed in the training, H.E Khieu Kanharith said that after receiving these training journalists would be able to better compose climate change articles with more accuracy.
In her welcome remarks in the opening ceremony of the Media Training, Ms. Anne Hoglund addressed a key role of media disseminating climate changing information. “Media is one of the most important channels for accessing information about climate change, raising people’s awareness and empowering people to contribute to reducing its negative impacts.”
The two days theory training will provide basic knowledge about climate change causes which mainly contributed by the green house gases emission. The risk associated and the impacts of climate change on key sectors and how to respond will be highlighted. Trainees will be provided with climate change materials which they can be accessed for when needed. After receiving climate change theory, trainees will be assigned to work in the field on three months duration to collect climate change related information for their articles with an ongoing coaching by two media experts.
This training is one of the main activities of CCCA Result 2 which works on improving knowledge and information of climate change. CCCA expects to see the increase of media coverage on climate change related information which can contribute to help raising people awareness as the way to help reducing their vulnerability.
