On May 3rd we'll celebrate the 31st World Press Freedom Day. This year's conference will be hosted by Chile and UNESCO with the theme "A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis" and also marks 30 years since the adoption of the historic Santiago Declaration, a testament to the ongoing commitment to promoting freedom of expression globally. It's no news that we stand at a crossroads of a future threatened by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution. The nexus between these crises and public health, democracy, and the proliferation of misinformation shows more than ever the critical role of the press in shaping public discourse. Journalists and scientists are indispensable agents in communicating complex environmental issues, separating fact from fiction, and advocating for informed decision-making. Without investigative journalism, many environmental crimes, cases of corruption, and the voices of marginalised communities would be silenced.
More than ever the fight for accurate information is obstructed by challenges, including disinformation campaigns, threats to journalistic freedom, and the suppression of dissenting voices. Disinformation surrounding climate change undermines public support for mitigation efforts, exacerbates inequalities, and erodes trust in scientific consensus. To address these challenges effectively, a comprehensive strategy is imperative. This strategy entails safeguarding journalistic freedom, promoting media diversity, enhancing digital literacy, and empowering marginalised voices, particularly those of women and indigenous communities.
The upcoming conference will be a platform for collective action and a global call to action to reaffirm commitments to journalistic integrity and advocate for the protection of environmental journalists.
Read more about World Press Freedom Day and what you can do to advocate for more and better environmental journalism.

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I'm particularly encouraged to see that this year's World Press Freedom Day celebration will also mark the 30th anniversary of the historic Santiago Declaration. https://houseofhazards.com
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Disinformation about climate change is a serious threat. We need strong, independent journalism to separate fact from fiction and empower people to make informed decisions science communication.
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It shall be great to see how "the fourth pillar " stands tall and strong while facing the multiple challenges of trust deficits, AI induced misinformation, and disinformation and triple planetary crisis but generate new waves of truth, transparency, hope and climate love.