Long recognising climate change and disaster risk reduction as transnational issues, the ABU has been an early leader in ensuring that media professionals and journalists in Asia and the Pacific are fully briefed on how to communicate information on disaster preparedness and prevention, including early warning systems, to their audiences.

The 8^th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention is set to take place on the 6^th and 7^th of August 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. As a flagship initiative of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the summit serves as a pivotal platform for fostering collaboration and dialogue among key stakeholders in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

This year’s summit will centre around the theme “Media Saving Lives” emphasizing the critical role of media in mitigating the impact of climate-related disasters. With climate change exacerbating the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, there is an urgent need to enhance early warning capabilities and improve disaster preparedness across the Asia-Pacific region.

Certainly, the media’s capacity to expedite climate action and readiness for disasters remains underutilized. There is ample opportunity for media to extend its reach and educate broader audiences on the impact of climate change on their daily lives, as well as the efforts of governments and numerous intergovernmental organizations like UNISDR, UNDP, and UNESCO to mitigate threats to lives, health, food, water, and national security.

Media is now recognised as a partner, not just a ‘microphone’ for disseminating other stakeholders’ messages. The partnership between the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and World Broadcasting Unions (WBU) brought to life the ground-breaking initiative UNDRR/WBU Media Saving Lives. In the last five years, over 90 broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific, African, Arab States and Caribbean regions have been engaged within this initiative to strengthen their capacity to educate audiences.

As part of its long-term campaign Saving Lives: Building Resilient Communities, in 2014 the ABU launched in Jakarta the ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention. Since then the Summit has travelled to Krabi (2016), Dhaka (2017), Fiji (2018); Kathmandu (2019) and held online in 2021, in 2023 the Maldives welcomed the Summit delegates.

This year, the ABU invites its members, as well as members from its sister unions ASBU, AUB, CBU, and EBU, along with its international partners, to convene in Bali, Indonesia, a region that is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change.

A highlight of the Media Summit is the ABU Together for People, Planet, Peace Media Award Ceremony. The Award seeks to recognize and celebrate the vital role of media in advancing sustainability, social justice, and peace. This ceremony will take place during the Gala Dinner on the second day of the ABU Climate Summit.

As Indonesia assumes the role of host for this significant event, the 8^th ABU Media Summit promises to be a dynamic platform for catalyzing collective action towards building a more resilient and sustainable future for all.

The ABU is grateful to the Government of the Indonesia and its member Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) for hosting the Summit.

DATES
6^th and 7^th August 2024

LOCATION
BALI, NUSA DUA

2024 T4P — TOGETHER FOR PLANET, PEOPLE, PEACE MEDIA AWARDS

CONTACT DETAILS

Nargiza Numanova
nargiza@abu.org.my

Nazira Omarova
nazira@abu.org.my