Challenges related to climate change : Louis Vlavonou supports Élan Média in the fight

Journalists who are members of the Élan Media Association followed training last Friday at the Bel Azur hotel in Grand Popo. This training, which took place around the challenges linked to climate change, received the support of the President of the National Assembly.

This activity is part of publishing events 2023 media days initiated by the Élan Média group. Its theme is “Climate change and the role of the media for a more resilient population”. At the opening of the seminar, the President of the National Assembly, sponsor of the training, said he was honored by this choice made on his modest person.

He also drew the attention of the participants to the importance of such an initiative in view of the environmental issues facing the world today.. “My presence here is amply justified on two levels. Primo, it testifies to the attachment of the national representation and of myself to the constitutional values ​​of freedom of expression and freedom of the press…. Secondly, my presence here at your side is also an expression of the desire of the national representation to work with all stakeholders to face the challenges imposed by climate change on our country.” said President Louis Vlavonou.

He took the opportunity to place particular emphasis on the role that parliament plays in concert with the Beninese executive to enable citizens to cope with climate change.. Several communications furnished the training workshop. For Jislaine Adimi, president of the Élan Média Association, the commitment of the President of the National Assembly is to be welcomed. “The Benin Media Days have been held since 2015. They allow us to celebrate International Press Freedom Day in a different way, outside the initiatives of the umbrella organizations of the media associations”, she clarified before adding “The Jmb have thus irrefutably become, the largest event of media professionals in Benin. We are proud of it and want to keep the momentum for a more united press, more fulfilled and more professional”, did she commit.

The theme

The workshop focused on the theme of “Climate change and the role of the media for a more resilient population”. He articulated himself in total, around three communications moderated by Alain Sotchoumè from National Television (Ortb). Two were provided by the Directorate General for Environment and Climate (Dgec) through his agent Mathieu Biaou, expert in climate planning and protection. The National Environment and Climate Fund (Fnec) also supported the Elan media initiative by dispatching Prisca Jimaja Abley. With her, journalists learned about climate finance. “Access to the green fund requires accreditation”, he told them.

Mathieu Biaou's two interventions introduced the participants to the world of international climate defense instruments., notably the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the various Conferences of the Parties (Cop) whose 21st gave birth to the Paris Agreement. The overarching objective of this legally binding international treaty adopted in 2015 is to keep "the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels" and to continue efforts "to limit the increase in temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels". pre-industrial levels. » Beyond the speeches, reality is marked, observe the communicator, by the hypocrisy of the great powers, responsible for the largest share of global carbon dioxide emissions. Indeed, although they recognize the seriousness of the climate challenge in the speeches, they do not hesitate to row against the tide in the name of national interests.

“It was a great experience, this Grand Popo training which allowed us to discuss with actors who work on a daily basis in the field of the environment and climate. We have acquired several concepts” confided Jean-Luc Gadji, journalist at Océan Fm in Bénin Intelligent. He adds : “We need to reissue it”. andre dossa, vice-president of Elan Media, strongly encouraged media professionals to specialize in a given field.

Note that a media production competition on the theme of the training workshop has been announced and the best will be awarded prizes..

Veronique GBEWOLO (Stag)