World Radio Day: 2nd AUB Media Summit on Climate Change Opens in Dakar, Senegal

Government officials, UN representatives, media executives, journalists, scientists, and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond have gathered in Dakar for the 2nd African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) Media Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. Held in conjunction with the 2025 World Radio Day, this year's summit focuses on the theme "Reaching the Last Mile: Radio for Climate Action."   

The summit emphasizes the critical role of media, particularly radio, in disseminating life-saving information related to climate change to all populations, including vulnerable groups and those in remote communities.   

Senegal's Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Transition, Daouda Ngom, stressed the interconnectedness of global challenges and solutions. "Climate change knows no borders," he stated, highlighting the widespread impact of droughts, floods, rising sea levels, and desertification across Africa. He emphasized the importance of collective action, innovation, and communication in building a sustainable future. Ngom commended the AUB for its work in amplifying marginalized voices and raising climate awareness, noting the organization's success in fostering collaboration among broadcasters, journalists, and experts to share best practices and regionally tailored solutions.

Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services of The Gambia, echoed the importance of collaboration, stating that the summit provides an opportunity for participants to share experiences, learn from one another, and develop common solutions to the climate crisis. He emphasized the particular vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events and called for a pan-African effort to achieve a low-carbon future.

Gregoire Ndjaka, Director General of the AUB, emphasized the summit's multi-faceted approach to combating climate change. He highlighted the importance of diverse voices and expertise in developing accessible and actionable communication strategies for complex climate science. Ndjaka pointed to the potential impact of local radio broadcasts in local languages and regional investigative journalism collaborations. He described the summit as a unique platform for collaboration among stakeholders, aiming to equip media professionals with the tools and knowledge needed for accurate, urgent, and impactful climate reporting. He expressed hope that the summit's discussions will influence policies and practices continent-wide.

The Director-General of the AUB emphasized radio's immense power to connect with vast audiences, citing its role in launching the careers of musical giants like Manu. He also paused to pay tribute to Jimmy Mbaye, the charismatic guitarist of Super Étoile, who passed away on Tuesday night at the Madeleine Clinic in Dakar.

During his opening remarks, the Director-General of the RTS, Pape Alé Niang, underscored the urgency of the climate crisis and the critical role of media, especially radio, in educating the public.

Panel discussions throughout the day highlighted the difficulties journalists face in communicating complex climate information effectively. Participants called for simplified scientific language and concrete examples to help the public understand climate issues and the importance of early warning systems.

The first day concluded with a live radio roundtable discussion on climate-related issues, featuring national and international experts, broadcast by Senegalese national radio.