Journalists to attend climate change conference

Through this initiative, hundreds of millions of people across the world will receive daily updates on the latest international efforts to tackle climate change.

Countries with a key role

The 2010 CCMP fellows are from 29 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean - countries that are both vulnerable to climate change and have a key role to play in addressing it. As well as receiving training and mentoring at the summit, journalists will take part in a media clinic, field visit and interview sessions with leading climate change experts and negotiators.

The CCMP is an alliance between Internews, Panos and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). It has already supported more than 100 journalists from 43 developing nations at the past three UNFCCC meetings.

Steering the global community

"Accurate media coverage is essential to inform citizens worldwide about what climate change will mean for them," says Rod Harbinson, Head of Climate Change at Panos London. "Journalists also have a vital role to play in ensuring that governments take the actions needed to prevent dangerous levels of climate change and steer the global community onto a sustainable path."

A recent University of Oxford study (released on 15 November 2010), calls for greater support for journalists who report on climate change and stronger networks between media and climate scientists.