Climate change is a human rights crisis.
United Nations Human Rights and the University of Oxford are hosting the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit, convened by the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA), bringing together global experts from various sectors to discuss impacts, obligations and effective responses to the human-rights climate crisis.
Join us, virtual registration is open to all.
Session: Witness to impact: “The role of journalism in advancing human rights-based responses to the climate crisis in South-East Asia”
Date & time in local time: June 5th, 2025, 10.45-11.45 AM Indochina Time (ICT)
Date & time UTC: June 5th, 2025, 03.45-04.45 AM
Venue: Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand
Host: United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) for South-East Asia in partnership with the Earth Journalism Network and Creative Migration
Background:
Climate change is a global crisis that threatens the effective enjoyment of a range of human rights, including the right to life, water and sanitation, food, health, housing, self-determination, culture, and development. Media and journalists have a vital role in shaping public understanding and responses to both climate change and the related human rights issues. Journalists inform the public about the science of climate change, its causes, and its effects on the environment. They translate complex scientific data into understandable awareness raising stories. By reporting on how climate change affects specific communities, journalists, including photojournalists, also make the issue more relatable and urgent, encouraging local actions and solutions. Through investigative journalism, they hold governments, corporations, and other entities accountable for climate change-related human rights abuses. Most importantly, by highlighting the struggles and successes of marginalized communities, journalists empower individuals to advocate for their rights.
However, the shrinking of civic space in the region has significant implications for environmental journalists, who often face heightened risks, including harassment, threats, and violence in repressive environments, journalists may face censorship or feel compelled to self-censor to avoid repercussions. This can lead to a lack of critical reporting on environmental issues and diminished public awareness,
Despite these challenges, environmental journalists play a crucial role in raising awareness about environmental issues and holding power to account. Their work is essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.
This panel of experts will address the important role of environmental journalism in informing people and policymakers about the human rights impacts of climate change and human rights solutions to the climate crisis. The panel will explore the evolving landscape of climate and environmental journalism in South-East Asia, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions. Leading voices in the field will discuss emerging trends, including the rise of climate justice storytelling, as well as the significant challenges journalists face—from navigating safety risks and political pressures to overcoming resource constraints and limited access to critical information. How can human rights help journalists overcome these obstacles, amplify the voices of people in vulnerable situations, uncover environmental injustices, and inspire meaningful climate action? This thought-provoking discussion will highlight practical examples and stories that shed light on environmental journalists' resilience, dedication, and impact as they strive to inform and inspire change.