The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in collaboration of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Future Climate For Africa (FCFA) have equipped 19 selected African journalists with knowledge and skills on how to effectively and accurately shed light on issues of Climate Change.

The media workshop was specifically designed to build capacity of the selected reporters with focus attention on the importance, the modalities and how applicable both the IPCC's Special Report on Climate Change and Land as well as the IPCC's Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is to the fight against climate change.

The media capacity building workshop coincided with the 2019 African Climate Risks Conference (ACRC 19) which was held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Abba, Ethiopia from October 7-9 2019.

The participants include Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic (Ghana), Mercy Malikwa, Nations Publications Ltd. (Malawi), George Achia Odihiambo, Science Magazine (Kenya), James Padili, PAMACC (Tanzania), David Njagi Freelancer (Kenya), Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Ghana News One (Ghana), Nina Mitch, Instant News (DRC), Jonas Nyabor, Citi FM (Ghana), Isaiah Esipisu, PAMACC (Kenya) and Kingsley Obeng-Kyere (GBC). The rest are Jamila Okertchiri, Daily Guide Network (Ghana), Aimable Twahirwa PANAPRESS (Rwanda), Esther Nakazzi, Freelancer (Uganda), Tiblets Tesfay, Awashi 90.1 Radio (Ethiopia), Salim Mohammed (Tanzania), Sophie Mbugua, Freelancer (Kenya), Waburoko Benjamin Mbonga (Uganda), Protus Onyango Mabusi, Sally Nyakanyanga, Freelancer (Zimbabwe), Waburoko Benjamin, NECJOGHA (Uganda) and Protus Onyango Mabusi, PAMACC (Kenya).

The participants also had the opportunity to share in the discussions and fully participated in the 3-day global conference which brought together researchers, scientists, policy makers,practitioners and development partners to converge at the UNECA building in Addis Ababa.

Addressing the participants at the opening of the media briefing, Mairi Dupar,Technical Advisor at CDKN maintained the training is specifically targeted to Africa-based journalists and designed to enable the participants to obtain grounding on the IPCC's Special Report on Climate Change and Land as well Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere in the changing Climate.

According to her, it will help enhance the capacity of the reporters and increase their knowledge on the issues of climate change in order to be able to accurately and effectively shed light on them.

The IPCC Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
assesses the existing science to date on how greenhouse gases are released and absorbed by land-based ecosystems, and the science on land use and sustainable land management in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation, desertification, land degradation and food security.

Meanwhile it's Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate highlights the urgency of prioritizing timely, ambitious and coordinated action to address widespread and ensuring changes in the Ocean and Cryosphere.

The findings of both reports are of great importance to decision-makers across Africa and the world in the fight against climate change which has been identified as the biggest challenge of our time.