CCC vice chairperson and executive director Rober Borje (File photo)
MANILA – The media plays a crucial role in the public's preparedness and climate change adaptation, an official of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said Wednesday.
"Journalism is an important part not only of democratic society but on the moves that we want to further enlighten and empower people (when it comes to) climate change," CCC Vice Chair Robert Borje said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon televised briefing.
He said the media could amplify what needs to be talked about, and would help the public and institutions understand climate change better.
Borje said understanding, knowledge, preparedness and compliance are all essential as people deal with the effects of climate change.
"Adaptation efforts will require a lot of investments, work, science-based decisions. The media helps us with these," he said.
The media also plays a part in policy-making, he added.
"We need the media when it comes to policies, so the public would know what they could prepare. At the barangay level, for example, people could prepare rainfall water catchments to (collect) water. They could also talk about adaptive agriculture and setting up urban farms," Borje said.
Borje further underscored it is also important for the public to know the early warning signals of quick onset events, and for them to understand science and technology.
"Don't be afraid of science as this will identify the path and solution to climate change," he said, reiterating the media's role in explaining these.
Meanwhile, Borje said the stakeholders' testaments are also vital in climate change adaptation.
"Testimonies are real accounts not just of the challenges faced but of the successes of our country. When you provide true stories on the effects of climate change and the solutions we do, you're giving hope and real solutions to other people." (PNA)
