3RD ASIA-PACIFIC BROADCASTING UNION MEDIA SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, DHAKA, BANGLADESH
10-11 MAY, 2017

DHAKA DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT

PREAMBLE

Given overwhelming scientific evidence that activities relating to the human presence on planet Earth are causing changes to the atmosphere and environment upon which the global population relies for its very existence and survival, it is vital that the current international conversation on the subject be strengthened and enhanced. The media, especially radio and television, has a vital role in reaching out to citizens and developing a two-way communication process in ensuring a greater understanding of climate change issues.

Similarly, broadcasting has a critical responsibility in informing a broader public of disaster risk reduction issues and is the first media of choice when civil disaster relief agencies, humanitarian support organizations and community service bodies seek to inform the public during times of crisis and emergency.

Climate change affects people of all nations with no differentiation, just as disasters recognize no national borders, nor do they discriminate between rich and poor nations. Broadcasters have a duty to initiate dialogue and to highlight to viewers and listeners the challenges which can affect them and their families, not only in known areas of danger but also where environmental challenges may occur in the future.

COMMITMENT

We, the delegates to the 3rd Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Media Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, thank the Summit hosts, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, for initiating this important international event.

Recognising the outcomes of previous regional meetings, namely the inaugural media summit in Jakarta, Indonesia (2014), the next in Sendai, Japan (2015) and last year’s gathering in Krabi, Thailand (2016) as well as reinforcing the three global commitments (SFDRR, SDG and Paris Agreement) and the last AMCDRR (2016) declarations, we reinforce our commitment to the task of conveying life-saving disaster risk reduction information to the people of our nations, as well as sharing knowledge for action on climate change issues and sustainable developments goals.

Following two days of important discussions and exchanges in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh we:

• call upon broadcasters throughout the Asia-Pacific region to take note of the outcome of this Summit and others held to date;
• support international moves to further disseminate vital data on the subjects of climate change and disaster risk reduction to the widest possible radio, television and online audiences throughout the world;
• commit ourselves to taking positive and proactive measures in our own organisations in producing creative, quality radio and television programmes to address the ever-evolving issues, thereby seeking to encourage the mitigation of potentially catastrophic implications for societies and lifestyles;
• take cognizance of the human costs of inaction, especially as these relate to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, community involvement in disaster management and the need to address poverty alleviation;
• adopt a whole of society approach that ensures that governments, civil society, research institutions, international agencies and other parties develop partnerships with broadcasting organisations to ensure that professional, accurate and cogent messages are available for public information, education, action and the broader global conversation.
  

  CONCLUSION

  We call upon the hosts of this Summit to place this Dhaka Declaration of Commitment before the UN’s Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Cancun, Mexico (24-26 May, 2017) and upcoming future dialogue for implementation of Paris Agreement, thus ensuring that the voices of the people of the Asia-Pacific are heard in that critical international forum.

  To conclude, we invite all broadcasters, stakeholders and fellow interested parties to gather in the South Pacific nation of Fiji in 2018 for the 4th Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Media Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction.

  Agreed by all parties to the 3rd Summit. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  11 May, 2017