Journalists awarded for climate reporting at IBA ceremony

The Centre for Excellence in Journalism at the IBA Karachi recognized four journalists from Urdu, English, and Pashto media for their exceptional climate change reporting.

Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and GIZ GmbH, the awards were a culmination of the Green Media Initiative boot camps in Swat and Rahim Yar Khan, aiming to enhance environmental journalism.

German Counsel General Dr Rüdiger Lotz praised the journalists’ impactful contributions to climate change discussions.

Winners were selected from 20 entries by a jury, including journalists Shahzeb Jillani and Afia Salam, for their reports following the boot camps.

The event also introduced ‘Pakistan: On the Frontline of Climate Change’, a guide for journalists by Rina Saeed Khan, edited by Farahnaz Zahidi. Amber Rahim Shamsi of the CEJ highlighted the Centre’s dedication to fostering climate journalism, supported by GIZ’s shared vision for impactful reporting.

Ahmad Shabbar’s keynote addressed nature’s resilience and the media’s role in environmental awareness.

Winners included Irfan Ulhaq and Mahjabeen Abid for their stories on salinity control and air pollution’s health impacts, and Arif Ahmad and Laiba Hussan for reporting on climate-induced flooding and solar energy’s unintended consequences.