Two environmental journalists chosen to attend COP 29

Text by Henrylito D. Tacio

Davao City- Two young environmental journalists were chosen to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan this coming November 12-24.

Annie Perez-Gallardo and Edmar Delos Santos were selected by Germany’s DW Akademie and the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists (PNEJ) to join other journalists from Indonesia and Timor-Leste to attend COP 29.

“I’m extremely grateful to be selected as one of two fellows to cover COP 29,” said Perez-Gallardo, a regional correspondent at ABS-CBN News and a faculty at the University of the Philippines-Cebu. “I see this as an opportunity to learn in-depth climate reporting especially on policies that need to be implemented.”

She added, “I’m very proud to represent community journalists especially in the Visayas, as we too are facing the effects of climate change.”

The report of Perez-Gallardo highlighted the disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction program on Caubian Island in Lapu-Lapu City. She described it as “community already grappling with the effects of rising sea levels.”

According to her, one of the vulnerable sectors in the community are the fisherfolk who are also persons with disabilities.

“I did not expect to be selected,” admitted Delos Santos, a climate change tracker. “I attended the training just to learn more about effective climate change storytelling, and I was looking up to other participants given their qualifications. That is why I’m truly honored to have been chosen.”

The report of Delos Santos focused on the life of Melba, a traditional salt maker from Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. She struggles to sustain their heirloom craft due to the effects of climate change.

“The salt-making process, which relies heavily on dry weather, is threatened by increasingly unpredictable weather patterns in the Philippines, putting their tradition at risk,” Delos Santos pointed out.

The two fellows were selected from the 10 climate media workshop participants organized by DW Akademie and PNEJ last July 2024 in Manila.

The eight others who joined the workshop were Lyzha Agnote of Bicoldot.ph, Roy Barbosa of Manila Today, Jessica Bartolome of GMANews.TV, Iya Gozum of Rappler, Ralph Llemit of Sun.Star Davao, Helen Padrones of Palawan News, Cherry Salazar of LiCAS News, and Francesca Tuazon of FYT Media. — ###