Radio and climate change were the focus of Terra FM’s World Radio Day 2025 celebrations. The day is marked every year on February 13. Terra FM held three days of activities, including a conference. Its aim was to help journalists and environmental experts work together on climate messages.
At the conference, held at the AIC Church in Ramogi Chawa, Mukambu chiefdom, Mahagi territory, Ituri province, in northeastern DRC, journalists from local radio stations and media houses, civil society representatives, religious leaders, agronomists, and other environmental experts shared information and strategies, underscoring the importance of collaborative action on environmental challenges.
Panel one: radio and climate change communication
The first panel discussed radio as a key medium for communicating climate change and environmental issues. A highlight was how local radio stations can simplify complex climate information and share it with communities. Panelists also stressed the importance of fact-based environmental reporting, which requires collaboration between environmental experts, journalists, and local communities.
Success stories of radio programs that encouraged positive environmental practices were shared. Watetezi.org, part of the Environmental Defenders (ED) family alongside Terra FM, interviewed Oscar Pascal, the conference team leader and a presenter of Good Morning Africa on Terra FM, who brought together a panel of journalists specializing in environmental reporting. For Pascal, quality environmental reporting is a passion, and his program combines sports coverage with the environment.
One panel brought together environmental journalists, media program directors, climate change experts from civil society and local universities, a community leader, a farmer representative, and young environmental activists. They discussed links between climate change, local food security, and livelihoods, highlighting sustainable agricultural practices and radio’s role in climate adaptation. They also explored how to address the inequalities caused by climate change and advance “climate justice” through community broadcasts and by mobilizing women, youth, and civil society through radio campaigns.
Knowing how audiences listen
According to Pascal, one lesson from the conference was a clearer understanding of how communities in the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Albertine region in Uganda receive Terra FM’s broadcasts. This helps shape the language presenters use and guides programmers in choosing the best times for environmental education talk shows. The conference recommended morning slots, because most people tune in after waking up and while preparing for work.
Discussions also highlighted the problem of “brown envelopes,” or bribes, among journalists. A journalist who accepts them ends up misleading the public. Powerful actors behind environmental damage can use bribes to distort stories. In this way, they cover up the harm mining causes to communities.
Panel two: fact-based reporting on radio and climate change
The second panel’s theme was “Radio, an essential way to communicate about climate change and environmental problems.” It examined how local radio stations can simplify and share complex climate information, why environmental stories must be based on facts, and how environmental experts, journalists, and local communities can work together.
After debate, panelists committed to making climate information simpler and more accessible. One approach is to prioritize vox pops, meeting people in the community and collecting their views, paired with the informed voices of environmental and climate change experts.
Panelists noted that environmental reports help communities understand the dangers they face and teach them about the species around them, encouraging them to protect biodiversity through eco-friendly practices. Experts, community leaders, and journalists agreed that it is essential to know the language of the environment, the radio’s coverage area, the target audience, and the times of peak listenership. They shared examples of radio programs that led to small groups of environmental activists who now campaign tirelessly to protect the environment and bring back certain animal species to some areas.
Panel three: safety and security of climate journalists
The third panel discussed Safety and Security of Journalists: Working Conditions in Climate Reporting. Participants acknowledged many challenges, including a lack of environmental training, which limits journalists’ ability to report on these issues effectively, and limited knowledge of new technologies.
In eastern DRC and Uganda’s Albertine region, insecurity restricts access to some areas, authorities are sensitive about outsiders reaching certain mining sites, and political pressure often limits access to environmental information. Logistical and financial constraints also hamper journalists’ daily work, and low public interest in environmental news is a further obstacle.
To protect journalists and press freedom, panelists called for stronger legal protections for press freedom and for strategies and resources to support climate reporters. Journalists from local Mahagi radio stations proposed that every newsroom identify and support at least one journalist specializing in environmental and climate reporting. They stressed prioritizing information and urgency, giving voice to relevant actors and experts, and engaging with and challenging sources.
Panelists proposed a collaborative network of journalists and environmentalists and suggested partnering with Environmental Defenders to fund initiatives in Mahagi. They also discussed the role of local authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and legal frameworks in protecting journalists, calling on authorities to guarantee journalists’ safety and organize climate awareness sessions, and on NGOs to support radio stations in the fight against climate change. Learn more about our safety and security support for journalists.
Panel four: radio, peace, and community development
The fourth and final panel explored the relationship between radio and community development, focusing on mobilizing for peace, security, and collective action. It discussed how radio can consolidate peace and resolve conflicts, the involvement of religious leaders, youth, and women in community development, radio’s contribution to local governance and civic education, and future improvements to community radio infrastructure.
Panelists observed that some listeners do not follow the advice given on air. They expressed hope that radio would amplify people’s voices, actively promote peace, and share information freely, and that journalists would respect their professional code of ethics. They suggested that stations give more airtime to religious and civil society leaders to promote peace, recognizing that radio can either encourage or discourage positive behavior.
On involving religious leaders, women, and other stakeholders in community development, panelists recommended awareness campaigns through conferences and other meetings, and asked that Bible readings and registration announcements be broadcast on local radio so that everyone can access them.
Key takeaways on radio and climate change
The three-day World Radio Day celebration at Terra FM, in collaboration with Environmental Defenders, highlighted radio’s critical role in driving climate awareness, building community engagement, and amplifying the voices of environmental advocates. Experts, journalists, and community leaders recognized radio’s power to simplify complex climate issues, promote environmental justice, and mobilize grassroots action.
Key takeaways included the need for fact-based environmental reporting, collaboration between journalists and climate experts, and strategic programming to maximize listener engagement. The discussions also underscored the challenges journalists face, including safety concerns, lack of resources, and political pressure, and called for stronger protections and partnerships to support climate reporting. Radio’s role in community development, peacebuilding, and governance was also emphasized, with calls for greater involvement of religious leaders, civil society, and local authorities.
Through Terra FM, Environmental Defenders remains committed to strengthening community-driven environmental journalism and advocacy in the Congo Basin and the Albertine region, as part of its broader mission to protect biodiversity, support environmental human rights defenders, and promote sustainable livelihoods. Read more about Terra FM’s 2025 World Radio Day celebrations.