Communicating Climate in Central Asia: A network of experts and journalists to promote climate action

The challenge…

The project offers several key opportunities for journalists and communicators, including capacity-building workshops led by experienced trainers. These workshops will introduce participants to the fundamental scientific principles of human-caused climate change and its specific impacts on Central Asia. Journalists will also be trained in "constructive journalism," which focuses on highlighting solutions and positive examples of emission reductions and climate adaptation, rather than merely reporting on the dire consequences of global warming. Additionally, the project will include training in digital security, data visualization, and multimedia storytelling.

For communicators, the workshops will emphasize essential communication strategies, such as audience segmentation, simple messaging, and the use of personal stories to resonate with the public.

Moreover, the project will facilitate practical exercises that improve the interaction between journalists and communicators, ensuring that complex scientific information is conveyed effectively and succinctly.

In the course of the project, participating journalists and communicators from Central Asia have a chance:

• to network with colleagues and experts from neighbouring countries and develop stories
• to receive financial support for quality content production
• to participate in trainings, regional conferences, summer school
• to develop English skills and necessary security knowledge.

Climate Journalism and Communication Workshops

Based on the 4 project workshops on climate change and climate communication, both the participating journalists and the experts developed and adopted a list of criteria for high-quality climate journalism and climate communication that all published materials, statements, interviews, etc. that appear during the project must meet (e.g. scientific sources of information, multi-perspectivity).

Summer Writing School 

A five-day writing school will improve journalistic quality of young journalists who want to devote themselves intensively to climate change. International and regional trainers will teach the participants practical writing skills. The participants - 20 freelancers or young journalists - will learn a lot in the areas of ethics in climate journalism, data journalism, multimedia storytelling, international climate policy and solutions, reader activation, trends in international climate journalism - and will receive editorial support and mentoring throughout the duration of the school.