Reporting Development Network Africa (rDNA), a Highway Africa project at the Rhodes School of Journalism Media Studies, has been announced as the winner of the South African Climate Change Leadership Award (SACCLA) in the community/individual division.
Reporting Development Network Africa (rDNA), a Highway Africa project at the Rhodes School of Journalism Media Studies, has been announced as the winner of the South African Climate Change Leadership Award (SACCLA) in the community/individual division.
The winners were announced during a gala dinner held at the Sandton Southern Sun Hotel on Thursday, 29 March. The rDNA Programme Development Officer, Nqobile Sibisi, described winning the award as a validation of the work that rDNA does in the “analytical coverage of African developmental issues”.
Sibisi also called for self-reflection by African media in the way in which the global warming issue is currently being approached. “Africa has the smallest carbon footprint [in the world], yet we are the most affected by climate change, she said, we need to start conversations that will change policies because this is an immediate problem that requires immediate solutions.
The rDNA's entry into the competition was their project which covered the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) held in Durban late last year. The project, funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs, saw 19 journalists from eight different African countries reporting on the conference with special focus on the seminars relating to the continent.
Sibisi said the main aim of the entire project was to represent the African agenda at the conference through “offering a unique African voice amidst the proliferation of western media”. The content that was generated by the team went to rDNA’s online publication as well as to different news portals across the continent including aggregating media. Along with the award, rDNA has won R50000 from the South African Post Office.
The CCL awards were started three years ago to motivate and celebrate businesses, communities, schools, youth and individuals leading the way in climate change response and mitigation. In the community/ individual division second place went to JNF Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre and third place to Daniel Robinson for Project 90 by 2030.
