East and Southern African journalists urged to strengthen climate reporting

3 December 2025, 2:41 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

Journalists from East and Southern Africa have been urged to increase factual and science-based reporting as the climate crisis increasingly threatens public health, food systems, and economic stability across the region. This call was made during a regional cross-border media science café on environment and climate change, which brought together reporters from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and other countries.

Speaking during a Zoom meeting with journalists, Mweetwa Mudenda, Head of the Public Health Department at Lusaka Apex Medical University, warned that climate change has become a full-blown public health emergency. He noted that countries are already experiencing worsening heat stress, water scarcity, and a surge in climate-sensitive diseases.

“Climate change continues to pose a significant threat to social, economic, and health systems through heatwaves, unsafe water, malnutrition, and increased disease outbreaks,” Mudenda said.

He added that although solutions such as clean energy expansion, climate-smart urban planning, and stronger health-system preparedness exist, their implementation remains extremely slow across the region, leaving millions at risk.

Journalists were encouraged to consistently frame climate change as a health story by highlighting local impacts and clearly explaining the scientific connections between environmental changes and emerging diseases. Trainers emphasised that misinformation continues to distort public understanding, making it essential for the media to debunk myths, avoid sensationalism, and rely on verified scientific evidence.

Participants also examined global political trends affecting climate and health outcomes, including the impact of the United States’ earlier withdrawal from major climate agreements. Experts noted that the move disrupted global emissions-reduction efforts, slowed momentum among major polluters, reduced funding for climate-health programmes, and weakened international research collaborations.

Following these discussions, Harry Simanthala from Latu Foundation presented alarming global and African climate-health data. He reported that heat-related deaths have risen by 23% since the 1990s, reaching an estimated 546,000 deaths per year globally. Wildlife mortality has also surged, with 154,000 deaths recorded in 2024 due to climate-induced ecosystem stress.

Simanthala added that vector-borne diseases have increased by 49%, driven by rising temperatures and expanding mosquito habitats. Africa alone is projected to record up to 14.5 million climate-related deaths by 2050 if current trends continue. Vulnerable groups—including children, older persons, and those with chronic illnesses—face 15% higher death rates during extreme weather events.

He also highlighted escalating mental health challenges, noting rising cases of PTSD, depression, and anxiety linked to climate disasters, and warned that food- and waterborne diseases could contribute up to 250,000 additional deaths annually without robust climate-health surveillance systems.

Health specialists at the café urged African governments to integrate climate risks into disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and national health strategies. They called on policymakers to align decisions with the 1.5°C temperature goal, increase climate-health financing, and prioritise vulnerable communities already facing severe climate impacts.

Looking ahead to COP31, experts said the conference in Türkiye will be a major test of global political will. They emphasised that credibility will depend on whether countries move beyond promises toward concrete implementation through measurable emissions cuts, strengthened adaptation plans, increased loss-and-damage financing, and ensuring that health remains central to all climate negotiations.