The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has implored upcoming journalists to take lead roles in environmental conservation.
MCK Nakuru Regional Coordinator Joseph Mecha told the Kabarnet Boys High School Journalism Club members to take a proactive role in raising awareness on climate change by engaging in tree-planting activities.
He said that journalists play a crucial role in disseminating climate change information to help raise awareness about the importance of tree planting. This, he said, will help the public understand the benefits of such mitigation measures to climate change.
“By raising awareness about climate change, journalists can empower the public to take action to prevent further environmental degradation and restore the damaged landscapes across the country,” said Mr Mecha when he met Kabarnet Boys High School Journalism Club members.
He mentioned that a significant amount of public knowledge about environmental issues comes from the media and stressed the vital role journalists play in shaping public perception and understanding of ecological matters.
Kabarnet Boys High School Principal Mr Julius Ndirangu underscored the media’s role in highlighting appropriate measures to prevent the escalation of issues that can hinder development.
“The media is a major platform for disseminating information that can promote mitigation activities. It's upon journalists to provide solutions to the challenges of environmental degradation in order to promote development,” he said.
He lauded MCK for its efforts in raising awareness about climate change, noting that the tree-planting initiative undertaken will contribute to the realisation of the presidential initiative to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, with the goal of restoring 30 per cent forest cover.
The session ended with a tree-planting activity of several indigenous seedlings at the school compound as part of the environmental restoration campaign.