Pacific media leaders demand better access to climate loss and damage information

Pacific editors and newsroom leaders are calling for greater access to climate information and more accountability from governments and regional agencies after adopting a new declaration in Savusavu.

The Savusavu Loss and Damage Media Forum Declaration was adopted on Thursday at the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Fiji following a two-day forum for editors and newsroom leaders.

The declaration says Pacific media has a key role in helping communities understand climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution while also holding decision-makers to account.

It calls on political leaders, governments and regional agencies to provide timely and transparent access to loss and damage information and make themselves available for public interest questions and interviews.

The declaration says climate-related loss and damage is an issue of climate justice for Pacific communities.

"We acknowledge the economic and non-economic losses and damages caused by climate change is an issue of climate justice for our Pacific communities," the declaration says.

Delegates gather on the final day of the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu, Fiji, as Pacific media leaders reflect on the summit’s discussions and outcomes. Photo/Facebook/PINA Pacnews

"We demand action to ensure these losses and damages are averted, minimised and addressed."

The declaration also calls for more support for Pacific journalists such as training, resources and stronger partnerships between media organisations, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and other regional agencies.

It comes as Pacific media leaders face growing challenges in reporting on climate change while also dealing with the spread of false and misleading information online.

Pacific media leaders are strengthening regional cooperation to improve coverage of climate change, loss and damage and other issues affecting communities across the Blue Pacific. Photo/Fijian Media Association

A second outcome from the summit is the launch of Check Pacific, a regional initiative aimed at bringing newsrooms, universities and civil society organisations together to tackle misinformation and disinformation.

Rashneel Kumar, Cook Islands News editor, introduced the platform at the summit.

"We want our civil societies, our media practitioners, and universities to come together and work together to actually battle this misinformation."

Kumar says the region's geography makes cooperation between Pacific countries and newsrooms particularly important.

"We're talking about remoteness and how we are divided, and we're trying to come together in an alliance... Disinformation is a big issue, so it's on the infant stage at the moment. It has been in my head for quite some time, and it has taken a bit of time to put it out to the world," he said.

The Check Pacific platform is intended to grow through collaboration between media practitioners, universities and civil society groups across the region.

Rashneel Kumar pictured far right: The Savusavu Loss and Damage Media Forum Declaration calls for greater access to climate information, stronger partnerships and timely access to government and regional agencies for Pacific journalists. Photo/Facebook/PINA Pacnews

For the media leaders behind the Savusavu Declaration, the focus is also on making sure Pacific journalists have the information and access they need to report on climate impacts affecting communities.

SPREP says the forum brought together editors, newsroom leaders and representatives from Fiji, Naoero, Niue, Palau, Sāmoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu.

The declaration also backs urgent action to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, citing recent United Nations Environment Programme findings on the risk of climate overshoot.

The Savusavu Declaration and Check Pacific were among the key outcomes of the 8th Pacific Media Summit, hosted jointly by PINA and the Fijian Media Association.

The summit also saw a change in PINA leadership with Papua New Guinea Media Council President Neville Choi elected President succeeding veteran Tongan journalist Kalafi Moala after his two-year term. Solomon Islands journalist Lisa Osifelo was elected Vice President.

Other PINA board executives include Print representative Frank Genaia (The Post-Courier, PNG), TV representative Charles Sumbe (Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation), and radio representative Viola Ulakai (Tonga Broadcasting Commission).

Watch PINA new president Neville Choi address members following his election at the Pacific Media Summit.

Papua New Guinea will host the next Pacific Media Summit in 2028 with Choi saying the country is ready to take on the role.

"We are ready to host and we have a very tough act to follow," Choi said as Pacific media leaders continue to push for stronger self-regulation and newsroom independence across the region.

More than 200 delegates attended the Savusavu conference.