AMPLIFYING SOUTH AFRICA’S CLIMATE HEALTH EXPERTS

Studies have shown that the news media plays an influential role in shaping health policy and public perception.

From our observations, climate health isn’t covered often in South African media, leaving it out of the national conversation.

In addition to a lack of specialist media coverage, health scientists and activists have low visibility, are often inexperienced in dealing with the media, and have difficulty communicating complex research and policy for a broader audience.

This need is particularly important when communicating the impact of climate change on health, which is complex and often requires a multi-disciplinary approach.

We will amplify the issues and use evidence-based research to underscore policy around climate change and its impact on our health by: Attending COP29 to ensure SA’s climate health experts’ activities are covered (and their voices are heard), and highlight responses from other countries that SA’s climate scientists, policymakers and activists can learn from.

Training 10 climate health experts in print, radio/TV interviewing, writing op-eds, using effective social media, and cultivating relations with journalists.

Holding two webinars in which climate health experts, including some of the trainees, address and explain issues to key journalists in SA on issues/research they consider important to cover.