DILI, 08 june 2021 (TATOLI) – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), together with the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Secretary of State for Civil Protection (SEPS) and the Secretary of State for the Environment (SEA), today organized a workshop on Journalism for climate change, environmental and disaster reporting, at Timor-Plaza, in Dili.
Speaking at the online workshop, the Secretary of State for Civil Protection (SEPS) Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins said the aim of the workshop was to share information on Journalism for climate change, environmental and disaster reporting to journalists from different media outlets in Timor-Leste.
“This workshop is important to share information with our journalists to improve their ability to report good and accurate news stories on climate change, environmental and natural disaster,” Martins said.
He said Journalists play such a crucial role to inform the communities to realize the scale of the threats associated with climate change, saying it was important for journalists to provide adequate information to the communities before, during, and after an incident of natural disasters.
Martins said through the online workshop, the journalist would get to know all the relevant sites and sources that reporters needed to consult when reporting on climate change.
In addition, Mr. João Carlos Soares, the Director-General of Environment at Secretary of State for the Environment said that Timor-Leste was highly exposed to disaster, saying, therefore, the role of journalists was crucial to protect the communities by producing and reporting any news stories on the impact of the natural disaster.
“We need to have a TV weather forecast program to particularly focusing on reporting the extreme weather, in order to alert and prevent our communities from any serious impact of the natural disaster like the April 4 flash-flood that claimed the lives of many people across the country,” said Soares.
Soares said the online workshop was part of the Green Climate Fund 6-year project, which has been implemented in six municipalities, including Baucau, Ermera, Aileu, Viqueque, Lautem, and Liquica since 2019.
In 2019, the Global Green Climate Fund approved $22.4 million for climate-resilient infrastructure in Timor-Leste.
Soares said the approved amount was to fund a 6-year project, the formulation which was led by the National Directorate for Climate Change under the Secretary of State of Environment.
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Journalist: Filomeno Martins
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