Climate reporting in the Philippines

"People in the Philippines are already convinced there is no way to escape the effects of the climate crisis. This becomes a problem and shows the urgency for newsrooms to train their journalists to write constructive stories." (Rey Anthony Ostria, freelance journalist in the Philippines) 

Effectively reporting on climate and disaster prevention can be a challenge and is one that Rainielle Kyle Guison, Rey Anthony Ostria and Aljohn Torreta regularly face. The three journalists work for various media outlets in the Philippines, and climate reporting is among their focuses. The climate change in their country affects everyone’s lives there.

According to the World Risk Index 2024, the Philippines is the country most at risk from natural disasters, with an index value of 46.91 percent. People here experience the direct impact almost daily, with periods of drought alternating with tropical storms, heavy rain and flooding. This is why those affected need reliable information about the causes and impact of climate change.

Media just focus on the disasters 

"Unlike in many Western countries, we don't need to convince people here that the climate crisis exists," Rey Anthony Ostria explains, "but we do need to show them how their lives are linked to climate change. We need to explain the science to them but in a simple way so that people understand there’s room for action and that they can hold those responsible to account." 

His colleague Rainielle Kyle Guison agrees, adding, "Here in the Philippines, we often have extreme weather events due to the climate. In our reporting, we focus on facts, such as the number of victims, but less on people's personal stories. As a result," she says, "many people lose interest in the news and no longer want to read these negative headlines." 

Training that focuses on climate reporting is also missing, says Aljohn Torreta, a radio journalist and lecturer in radio and journalism at the University of the Philippines Visayas. "If we look at the industry or at us as climate journalists it’s a challenge – there is no specific training or something that really helps you. You just go into the field, gather information, and do it on your own." 

Resources are a fundamental problem for climate journalism: travel for doing research on the widely dispersed islands, the need for equipment and the time required for in-depth reporting – these costs all add up but journalists are rarely adequately compensated for their efforts. Important local climate stories are usually not covered because media outlets are either unwilling or unable to cover the costs.

Climate reporting in practice 

To learn how to report constructively on climate issues, Ostria, Guison and Torreta applied to DW Akademie’s "Covering Climate" program, which is funded by the German Embassy in Manila and conducted in cooperation with the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines. 

 "Our training helps media professionals approach the complex issue of climate reporting. While it’s important to relay to the public the direct effects of climate change, it’s also essential to convey to them the economic, political and social implications. These are complex correlations, and good reporting needs to take them into account," explains trainer and project manager Deborah Urban.  

The three journalists were among the 10 media professionals taking part in the program and were trained in research, storytelling and constructive journalism. They also looked at the causes and effects of climate change and at measures for adapting to and mitigating challenges. In addition, they visited Manila’s Baseco neighborhoods and put what they had learned into practice.  

Projects on resilience and crisis prevention 

The Baseco neighborhoods comprise approximately 23,000 households and are located in an area where the Pasig River flows into Manila Bay. As a result, the area is frequently affected by flooding, typhoons and extreme heat. People there live in simple shacks and many are fishers, harbor workers, drivers or construction workers. Others make a living peeling garlic. The impoverished neighborhoods were specifically chosen for the program because they show how the climate crisis is affecting vulnerable groups and driving them to find creative solutions.   

To mitigate the immediate effects of climate change, residents have been working with several local non-governmental organizations, and particularly with the Urban Poor Associates (UPA) that founded the community organization, Kabalikat. Together they have developed a mangrove plantation with some 3,000 trees to protect the area from flooding and rising sea levels, and have also developed an urban gardening project to grow crops and thus improve local food security. Kabalikat is firmly integrated into local structures for disaster prevention, and conducts regular training sessions and organizes evacuations in the event of extreme weather. A collective savings system also strengthens the community’s resilience.

Participants of the "Covering Climate" program produced articles, reports and social media posts about the various initiatives, and conducted research and talked to organization members and residents on site.  

"The idea of constructive journalism is to show that people are capable of taking action to address a problem," says Kyle James, one of the project's trainers and mentors. "Constructive reporting presents examples of agency and positive action. The residents of Baseco, of course, can do little about the extreme weather, but they can prepare and work with other members of the community to improve a difficult situation. They see that they're not helpless, and that can motivate others."   

This part of the training was crucial, says Guison: "I really think it's the people you feature in the story. People often don’t see how it affects them if they don’t see a person who has the same struggles or benefits that they do. So a good aspect of a climate story is to put a face to the story, then it becomes more relatable. If there are solutions, to also include them and whether they are effective and working."  

Covering climate change is intense says Torreta: "It takes a lot of creativity and critical thinking to do climate reporting. It's a challenge because you need to have a grasp of everything and connect the different aspects. The mentors in the training told me that it’s a matter of ensuring that the story will speak for itself. You need to give technical information but at the same time, readers need to relate to it. We have to make an effort to create an impactful story." 

His colleague, Ostria, points to the insights he gained "My main takeaways were to really look for the constructive side of the story, when there is one, and to be really patient and look for that solution. You also need to provide evidence that the solution works in case someone wants to copy it."  

He also stresses the importance of making people aware of the climate issue: "2025 is a midterm election year for us. When polls are released, people's priority is about the rising prices. Filipinos prioritize getting food on the table, getting decent jobs. They don’t really see the climate crisis or climate resilience as their priority. That’s the challenge for us, to show people proof that their problems are not exclusive to this, but that the climate crisis could even worsen them."

Checklist: 10 steps for successful climate reporting 

1. Solutions instead of problems 

Highlighting solutions adds depth and relevance to a report and is important for countering so-called news fatigue. A solution-oriented approach includes concrete recommendations for action or references to people or organizations working on a solution to the problem described. Recommendations, though, should not be presented as the only possible solutions and should be critically reviewed, as well.  

2. Focus on people 

People like to read stories about other people, and ideally those who have something to do with the reality of their own lives. Stories told from the perspective of individuals or communities affected give credibility and authenticity to the reporting. Reports should also include the voices of experts, decision-makers and civil society organizations. The perspectives of women, indigenous people and other social minorities also play a central role here because they are often the most affected by the impact of climate change. 

3. Know the facts  

Climate policy and climate science are complex and dynamic. Political frameworks shift, and new scientific findings expand our knowledge of climate change. This means that well-founded climate reporting not only requires knowledge of current political developments, but also an understanding of the latest research findings. This is the only way to connect relevant aspects and convey a comprehensive and accurate picture of the situation. 

4. Report beyond headlines and disasters 

There’s more than just event-driven reporting on disasters or extreme weather conditions: there are also opportunities for relevant background reporting on climate and environmental issues. In times of news fatigue, many people do want to know more than just the headlines, especially when it comes to differentiated, solution-oriented reporting. 

5. Inform, don't overwhelm  

Language plays an important role in environmental and scientific-related communication. It’s an art to use simple language and present complex scientific facts in a way that’s easy to understand. It’s also important not to over-simplify or omit relevant details. Interesting narratives cleverly weave in facts and data, concrete examples from everyday life and give a local context. 

6. Understand climate as an overarching topic  

Climate change afffects many areas, so reporting should not only be done by  outlets’ environmental desk. Establish a global perspective and keep an eye on its effects on other areas such as the economy, education, society and nutrition. 

7. Make it visual!  

Using data and data visualization helps reinforce statements and highlight trends and dynamics. Think of how to present the topic visually. Photos, videos, tables, infographics or maps are a good way to visually present a story and illustrate complex relationships. 

8. Be careful choosing the format  

Although people are often put off by scientific or technical topics, exciting formats exist that make apparently complicated topics more accessible. Short, audiovisual social media posts can spark interest in a topic and then offer a more in-depth background article. 

9. Know your networks  

It’s not always easy to retrieve data and find reliable sources, especially when it comes to environmental reporting and science communication. Networking with local organizations, NGOs and experts can help you gain long-term access to reliable data. 

10. Stay critical  

Climate and environmental protection have become a trendy topic, and numerous campaigns and measures claim to be climate or environmentally friendly. Always take a second look to see if it’s just superficial greenwashing. 

The project "Covering Climate. Qualification of environmental journalists in the Philippines" was conducted by DW Akademie with the support of the German Embassy in Manila. The project was also supported by the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines (CCC) and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (AA).