Forum of Climate Change Journalists in Eastern and Southern Africa (FCCJESA

Statement for immediate release

Top Tower Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda

Good afternoon.

I would like to sincerely thank you for sparing time to attend this press conference organised by the Forum of Climate Change Journalists in Eastern and Southern Africa (FCCJESA) which has been called at very short notice.

The Forum of Climate Change Journalists in Eastern and Southern Africa (FCCJESA) whose geographical coverage include 28 countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East Africa Community (EAC), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region is a non profit organisation interested in climate change reporting.

The Forum, whose vision is to realise a well informed population in climate change issues, is currently being supported by different cooperating partners, the major ones being the European Union, Norway and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom (UK), through COMESA.

The FCCJESAwas formed at a general assembly on 26^th April in Kampala, Uganda and currently has a steering committee led by Patrick Luganda as chairperson, Saminya Bounou, of Comoros representing the Island States, Emmanuel Muwamba of Malawi representing Southern Africa region, Judith Akolo of Kenya representing the Easter Africa region and Cleopatra Hamaambo-Sitali of Zambia is our publicist and gender coordinator. I am glad to inform you that Rwanda was able represented at this inaugural assembly by two journalists.

For the past two days-Thursday and Friday, esteemed colleagues, FCCJESA executive has been meeting in Kigali, Rwanda to thrush out a work plan, and the roadmap of the Forum for sustainability.

I am glad to inform you that we have a five year strategic plan that seeks to have knowledgeable journalists to report on climate change professionally.  We have also determined the scope of work and how to implement part of it in the next coming 12 months. Further, we have also identified projects for the same period.

Among other identified, programmes are the Africa Climate Communication Conference where awards to deserving journalists, displays of climate related projects and training of members in national networks.

Meanwhile, COMESA intends to sponsor at least two journalists from the region to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also known as the 19^th Conference of the Parties (COP19) in Warsaw, Poland.

Esteemed members of the media, for the Forum to effectively implement its mandate and the scope of work that spans for an initial period of five years, we need your support to communicate to the wider public on issues of climate change that is affecting our region-COMESA, EAC, SADC, and IGAD.

We are all aware that climate change has impacted negatively in developing countries which are suffering most from effects of climate change.  

Most if not all countries in the region-COMESA, EAC, SADC, and IGAD- are the least resilient to climate change impacts, with the poorest being at greater risk.

Climate change in the region is not only an additional development challenge but it also threatens the progress made over the last decades. Over the last several decades, several countries in the region have experienced a number of adverse climatic hazards namely: dry spells, droughts, intense rainfall and floods.

These have increased in frequency, intensity and magnitude and have adversely impacted on food, water security, water quality, energy and the sustainable livelihoods of rural communities as well as national GDPs.

Esteemed colleagues, the work of the FCCJESA is to nurture climate change journalists through education, projects, conferences, creation and strengthening of national associations as we help the population in the region improve their livelihoods.

Lastly, it is therefore our hope that you will help your country and the entire region realise our Vision of having a well informed population in climate change issues and that you will embark on this mission to encourage other members of this noble profession to continuously report objectively whilst raising awareness and the understanding of climate change issues that lead to practical and tangible mitigation and adaptation measures as we reclaim our beautiful continent, Africa.

God bless you all. Thank you for attention.

Patrick Luganda

Chairman FCCJESA