Workshop for journalists highlights role of multilateral banks and ethical reporting

KARACHI: Indus Consortium, an organization focused on humanitarian, environmental and developmental issues, organized a comprehensive workshop for journalists on climate finance, in collaboration with Big Shift Global and Green Media Initiatives. The one-day workshop at a local hotel underscored the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs), particularly the World Bank, in climate financing.

Journalists from print, electronic and digital media attended the event, while facilitators contributed both in-person and online from various countries.Veteran journalist Shahzeb Jillani led discussions on investigative journalism, focusing on the intricacies of climate finance.

Jillani highlighted that the World Bank has provided $46 billion in assistance to Pakistan since 1950, with 55 ongoing projects currently receiving World Bank support. He advised journalists to explore fresh angles and maintain audience interest, pointing out critical areas like melting glaciers, floods, heatwaves, desertification and deforestation as examples of climate change impacts. Jillani also cautioned against sensationalism in reporting, urging journalists to avoid moralizing, exaggeration and doomsday narratives, and instead strive for balance in their stories.

Ms Marjorie, a representative of an international organization, Recource, speaking from the Philippines, discussed World Bank funding in the Asia Pacific region. She highlighted that the World Bank’s climate finance often comprises more loans than grants. In FY24, the World Bank allocated approximately $97 billion to climate finance, representing 44 per cent of its total financing for the year.