Familiarise yourself with environmental challenges facing Guyana – Dr Trotz to Journalists

In face of the challenges pertaining to climate change, the role of the press is more critical as ever as journalists serve as watchdogs, shining light on environmental degradation, exposing wrong doings and amplifying the voices most effective by environmental injustices.
Those were the remarks of Dr Ulric Trotz during a World Press Freedom Day Forum organised by the Guyana Press Association on Friday last at Moray House, Camp Street, Georgetown.
Trotz, which underscored the importance for journalists, in light of the recent surge in climatic catastrophes observed in Guyana and other countries worldwide, including the recent floods in Brazil and the current dry spell in Guyana.
According to Dr Trotz, it is vital that local journalists familiarise themselves with the environmental challenges that Guyana faces. This knowledge would equip citizens with information about ongoing climate change.
“It is imperative that journalists arm themselves with the relevant knowledge pertaining to Guyana’s management within its environmental challenges that the country faces, and through ensuring that we would be able to provide for all of our needs for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle for ourselves and those who are coming after us,” Trotz expressed.
Additionally, he also explained that investigative journalism and interviews serve as a vital platform for the exchange of ideas, leading to innovative solutions for climate action.
“The press, through publishing opinion theses, public interviews with key technical personnel like local scientists, policymakers, government functionaries, vulnerable stakeholder groups, indigenous communities, can provide a platform for frank exchange of ideas he stated whilst then adding that they can also lead to the articulation of innovative solutions, consensus building, and behavioral change in households.
Since 1997, Dr Trotz has been advising the Caribbean Governments on building capacity for climate change adaptation. Dr Trotz served as a member of the group of scientists awarded the Nobel Prize in 2008 in the capacity of a Review Editor for Chapter 16 on Small Island Developing States in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC).
World Press Freedom Day 2024 was dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. The theme for this year’s day was, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of Environmental Crisis.” (G2)