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LENSA IKLIM
Introduction
In March 2022, Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY) with the support of the European Climate Foundation (ECF), launched Lensa Iklim, a climate journalism and energy journalism program in Peninsula Malaysia that aims to upskill and empower Malaysian journalists and mainstream news media to improve climate change and energy transition reporting.
The Problems and Challenges We See in Climate Journalism in Peninsula Malaysia
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Lack of in-depth climate and energy transition reporting in Peninsula Malaysia.
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Climate journalism in Peninsula Malaysia is under-reported and has an event/disaster based reporting trend.
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Lack of data, crucial information, and experts for accurate and unbiased climate and energy transition reporting.
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Journalists face a lack of time, funding, and language barrier to properly understand and decipher climate and energy science, governmental policies, international reports, and other related technicalities due to its complicated nature.
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Lack of initiative from news media to accelerate climate and energy transition stories.
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Lack of interest and traction from readers on climate or energy news due to the repetitive and one-sided nature of the news.
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Lack of intersectionality between climate and energy transition news, as they are predominantly framed by finance and lack the human lens.
How Lensa Iklim Aims to Address the Problems and Challenges
Lensa Iklim was formed to empower journalists in Peninsula Malaysia in climate crisis and energy transition reporting. The long-term aim is to strengthen climate communication in Malaysia, under the Right to Information objective, thus increasing the public’s climate literacy. The programme also has a short-term goal to increase the capacity of journalists, in the news media and newsroom sector, in Peninsular Malaysia on climate crises specific to the energy sector and “Just Transition”. Since the inception of the programme in 2022, we have reached these milestones :
1. Capacity building for journalists for climate and energy transition through workshops.
Journalists are taught essential climate and energy transition topics, such as climate policies and governance, the IPCC report, and COP UNFCCC processes.
2. Mentorship for the publication of climate-energy stories.
Mentorship by experts is currently ongoing for journalists publishing climate-energy stories in January-February 2023.
3. Publication of a year long research report “Climate-Energy Transition Media Reporting in Peninsular Malaysia.”
This report aims to analyse the challenges faced by journalists and newsrooms reporting climate-energy stories in Peninsula Malaysia and will be released in early 2023.
4. Climate resource hub.
The hub provides a guide and breakdown of topics, a list of experts and critical climate and energy policies and regulations. You can access the climate resource hub here.
Why Just Peninsula Malaysia ?
The main media that we are looking at are housed in Peninsula Malaysia. Furthermore, the social-cultural and political issues in East Malaysia vary drastically from that of Peninsula Malaysia, therefore, it would only be fair to provide East Malaysia with an analysis of its own with a voice that understands and focuses on these issues.
Resources from Lensa Iklim Workshops
Lensa Iklim’s series of workshops were carried out between June to August 2022.
"Climate-Energy Transition Media Reporting in Peninsular Malaysia" Research
This report runs a data analysis on the climate and energy transition reporting of the news media in Peninsula Malaysia, with supporting analysis of the interviews from journalists and editors of various news media. It is set to be published early next year.
Access our microsite here!
Articles published under Lensa Iklim microgrant & mentorship
The People Behind Lensa Iklim
Lensa Iklim Manager
Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar is the programme director of Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY). Nadiah is a consultant working in climate policy and risk, and business and human rights (BHR) with experience in the think tank sector like the ISIS Malaysia, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Climate Tracker, Stanley Center for Peace and Security, INGKA group's Young Leaders Council and the Swedish MFA international advisory group for the environment, climate and biodiversity. Currently, she is the environmental lead for the National Baseline Assessment for the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights (BHR), an initiative by SUHAKAM, UNDP and BHEUU.
Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar
Programme Coordinator
Nur Fatihah Ahmad Fauzi is the programme coordinator for the Lensa Iklim program. She is a recent graduate of BASc in Environmental Biology from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She is currently volunteering as a copywriter at USM LineHayat, which is a start-up that provides listening services to USM students.
Nur Fatihah Ahmad Fauzi
Finance Admin
Aishah Shapari is the Finance Admin for Lensa Iklim. She is currently in her final year of ACCA at Sunway College. She has a strong background in accounting and a passion for sports, as she is also the President of Sunway Sports Council.
Aishah Shapari
Research Lead and Author
Sumei Toh is the lead researcher for the “Climate-Energy Transition Media Reporting in Peninsular Malaysia” report. She has a background in biology and a MSc in Environment and Development. She has an extensive background in environmental consulting and researching.
Sumei Toh
Research Assistance
Kucheal Arivalagan
Kucheal Arivalagan is the research assistance for the “Climate-Energy Transition Media Reporting in Peninsular Malaysia” report. She is a recent graduate in Biotechnology from Taylor’s University and has a passion for science and learning.
Resource Hub Curator
Nazira Haszar is the curator for KAMY resource hub. She has a degree in Bachelor of Environmental Science at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and is passionate about climate and conservation.
Nazira Haszar
Web Designer
Bimo Kuncoro Yakti Prasetijo is the web designer for KAMY including the resource hub. He has a diploma in Information Technology at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and is currently pursuing his degree in Computer Science Artificial Intelligence at Universiti Malaya. He is also passionate about computers and anything related to web designing.
Bimo Kuncoro
Advisors
Nadiah Rosli is an experienced freelance journalist and the former Project Director of Internews Network, working on “Suara Masyarakat”, a program aimed at utilising the Malaysian media to promote and amplify media transparency and accountability while also incorporating awareness for the youths, marginalised individuals and communities. She has a MLitt in Environment, Culture and Communication and has gained extensive experiences in environmental journalism, especially in conservation projects.
Nadiah Rosli
Evelyn Teh is the Executive Director at Ara Research working on sustainability. A former Senior Researcher at Third World Network, she . She has a background in climate diplomacy. many fields, Evelyn as she started out as a Marine Biologist and branched to Environmental Design and recently City Design and Social Science. She has wide knowledge and experience in environmental science, policies and design.
Evelyn Teh
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