Yanrenthung J Humtsoe
CA, Akashvani Kohima
Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard.
World Radio Day 2025 celebrates the significant role that radio broadcasting plays in highlighting climate change issues. 2025 is a pivotal year for climate change. According to the Paris Agreement, humanity must peak global greenhouse gas emissions by this year at the latest, before they begin to decrease, in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Supporting radio stations in their journalistic coverage of climate change, World Radio Day on February 13, 2025, is dedicated to the theme “Radio and Climate Change.”
Here are some key points focusing on the intersection of climate change and radio:
In the age of artificial intelligence and ubiquitous social networks, radio remains a universally accessible and trusted medium. It continues to be one of the most reliable sources of information.
Influencing Perception: Beyond popularizing environmental concepts, radio has the power to broadcast verified information, independent of economic, ideological, and political pressures. This can influence listeners' understanding of climate change and the importance of addressing it.
Shaping the Public Agenda: Whether ON-AIR, via live streams, or on-demand, radio can help shape public discourse and influence policy making, making it a key player in public affairs.
Radio programming is influenced by various sources, which help define editorial approaches and themes. These sources, often experts in climate science and related fields, are crucial for gathering and interpreting climate data. The selection of themes, prioritization of topics, and framing of content largely depend on the quality of these sources.
Key Considerations:
Quality and Diversification of Information: The importance of diverse, expert sources in providing accurate climate-related information has never been greater. Addressing climate change requires reliable information, including expert opinions, scientific data, and real-world insights.
Debunking Climate Skepticism and Green washing: Radio must also tackle climate skepticism, expose green washing, clarify the economics of ecological policies, and investigate barriers to action. These issues require a range of expert sources to provide a nuanced understanding.
Local radio stations, deeply embedded in their communities, have the unique potential to offer relevant programming that connects climate change to local realities. Through interviews, on-the-ground reports, and community voices, local radio illustrates the day-to-day impacts of climate change. Listeners, particularly those from rural and indigenous communities, or those affected by environmental disasters (e.g., pollution, food shortages, and changing agricultural patternss), possess a wealth of knowledge about climate change and potential solutions. Their stories are vital in conveying the human side of this global issue.
Proposed Solutions and Key Points:
Local Relays and Mitigation Efforts: Local radio stations can serve as key relays for sharing effective climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. They can emphasize not just facts, but also actionable solutions that communities can implement.
Less Focus on Crisis, More on Stories: Instead of solely disseminating information about climate crises, radio can shift focus toward human stories and real-life experiences that inspire action and hope.
Making Climate Change Accessible: Radio can make climate change less intimidating and more relatable by using simple language, storytelling, and practical advice, while avoiding overly technical jargon.
Highlighting Local Solutions: By showcasing local responses to climate change, radio can help communities learn from each other and build a stronger sense of solidarity.
Radio as a Lifeline in Environmental Disasters
In times of environmental crises, radio often becomes the primary, and sometimes the only, means of communication. Radio's ability to function without electricity or internet, and to reach a wide audience simultaneously, makes it indispensable in emergency situations. It can save lives by providing critical information in real-time, especially when terrestrial or satellite communication systems are disrupted.
As climate change is a global issue, greater collaboration among broadcasters—both within countries and across borders—can enhance the ability to report on shared challenges. Cross-border issues such as regional disasters, climate-induced migration, and shared environmental struggles offer opportunities for radio stations to collaborate on investigations, reports, and programs. This cooperation can enrich the content and impact of climate change coverage.
Broadcasters can also dedicate regular segments to climate change in their newscasts. These could include prime-time programs focusing on climate issues, using diverse formats like interviews, documentaries, talk shows, and vox-pops, to ensure the message reaches a wide range of listeners.
Environmental Journalists: Facing the Risks
Over the past 15 years, 44 journalists have been killed, and 749 attacks have been recorded in 89 countries. UNESCO's data on attacks against journalists highlights the growing threats faced by environmental reporters. A new survey revealed that over 70% of journalists covering environmental issues have been attacked, threatened, or pressured.
60% reported online harassment, 41% experienced physical assault, a quarter were subjected to legal attacks, 75% reported significant impacts on their mental health.
This raises an important issue: the safety of journalists who report on climate change is crucial. The risks they face in doing so should not be underestimated.
Addressing Misinformation and Fake News
The spread of misinformation and disinformation about climate change is an increasing challenge, especially with the rise of social media. Radio broadcasters, however, play a key role in Media and Information Literacy (MIL). By helping listeners develop a critical mindset, they can empower the public to discern credible sources from unreliable ones. World Radio Day 2025 celebrates the efforts of radio broadcasters to equip citizens with the tools they need to understand and tackle the climate crisis, combat fake news, and promote informed, action-oriented discussions.
Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations.World Radio Day reminds us of the resilience of this medium in connecting communities, promoting freedom of expression, and acting as a lifeline during emergencies and disasters.
