CFAs: Virtual Media Workshop on Net Zero

The journey to net zero requires a pivotal shift away from fossil fuels and traditional polluters towards a more carbon-neutral way of living. Africa is a continent home to an abundance of sun, sea, and wind; its renewable energy potential is vast.

This reality provides a blueprint of hope for mitigating climate change and climate injustice—but also raises many questions: Who is and should be funding net zero initiatives and is how are these money flows tracked? How does the power dynamic between the Global North and the Global South shape narratives and realities? Which countries are paving the way as leaders in renewable energy, and which are falling behind?

Themes 

• The workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the net zero target, including its history, pathways to achieve it, key terminology and why it is an essential topic for every climate and environmental journalist to be covering.
• Over the course of three days, participants will have the opportunity to strengthen their thematic and technical understanding of Africa’s energy landscape, from net zero finance and policy measures to an analysis of different African nations’ energy mix.
• Participants will also hear from thematic experts and fellow journalists on the successes and challenges at regional and country levels as well as the dynamics of global conversations and negotiations.
• The workshop will discuss topics relevant for Africa as a continent but will spotlight examples and case studies from different African regions and contexts.
• The final agenda of the workshop will be shared with selected participants in August.

Logistics 

• They plan to accept approximately 30-40 participants for the workshop. Successful applicants will be notified by late July.
• The workshop will take place virtually on Zoom over three days from 9am-1pm each day (SAST time). While they strive to choose a time that works for as many time zones as they can, please take this into consideration when applying.
• For journalists who lack access to a stable, strong internet connection, they can provide a limited number of communications stipends to enable participation.
• All participants who attend the full three days will also receive a certificate of completion from EJN.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants can be from any country in Africa; applicants from South Africa, Nigeria, and Algeria, and Morocco are particularly encouraged to apply.
• For the purposes of this grant opportunity, they will only be accepting applications in English. Unfortunately, they do not have the capacity to consider applications in other languages at this time. Applicants must have a working understanding of English to participate in the workshop.
• Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with professional reporting experience and a history of covering environmental and net zero issues. They encourage applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations—international, national, local and community-based.
• Applicants are required to be transparent about the use of generative AI tools, if any, to revise their proposals. EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct, including, but not limited to, submitting AI-generated content as their own.

For more information, visit EJN.