Reporting on climate change must necessarily address the deeper social and economic dimensions of sustainable development. Understanding the complexity and nuances of this biggest story of our times needs such a multi-faceted approach, an international gathering of journalists and broadcasters in New Delhi noted this week.

The latest international congress of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ) also recognised how climate concerns have extended beyond strict environmental (or 'green') issues to mainstream political, business and even security coverage in the media.

Over 100 journalists covering science, environment and development issues came together from 28 to 30 October 2009 for the congress, whose theme was “Bridging North-South Differences in Reporting Climate Change: Journalists’ role in Reaching an Ambitious Agreement at COP15 in Copenhagen”.

Held concurrently with the 5th CMS VATAVARAN Environment and Wildlife Film Festival 2009, the congress enabled working journalists and editors from both industrial and developing countries to reflect on how their profession is responding to the climate challenge.

"Media coverage is very necessary, but not sufficient on its own, to build up public opinion and political will to act on climate change mitigation and adaptation," said TVE Asia Pacific (TVEAP)'s Director and CEO Nalaka Gunawardene, who chaired a session on the North-South differences in the electronic media (television) coverage of climate change.

He added: "Media can raise the issues and inspire discussion and debate. But we then need formal and non-formal education systems, as well as advocacy and activist efforts, to turn public awareness into changing attitudes and, eventually, behaviour."

Joining Nalaka on the panel were two experienced journalists from news and current affairs channels, Jesper Zolk, Climate Editor of TV2 News, Denmark, and Bahar Dutt, Environment Editor of CNN/IBN, India.

With over 500 news and current affairs channels in over a dozen languages, the Indian broadcast media remains 'chaotic but robust' at a time when mainstream media elsewhere in the world faces multiple crises, said Bahar Dutt.

"But editorial filtering is not always very strong in some of our channels, which sees climate coverage ranging from no coverage at all to hysteria," she added.

According to Bahar, much of the climate coverage in the Indian media overlooks the links with broader development issues. "Focus is often on climate treaty negotiations, or what individual experts or politicians say. These elements are only part of the bigger picture, and we need to look further and dig deeper."

For example, she cited how between 1950 and 1980, some 5 million hectares of forests in India had been diverted to 'non-forest use', such as roads, dams and agriculture. The decline in forest cover and the quality of remaining forests have become key concerns in the wider climate debate, she noted.

"Environmental journalists are not green activists, and our role is to be watchdogs – keeping a sharp eye on government, industry and even civil society," Bahar said. "But sometimes I find this watchdog role lacking in our media."

Her advice to fellow journalists: stop seeing environment as simply a green and 'cuddly' sector, and move it into the political arena.

Jesper Zolk, Climate Editor of Denmark's TV2 News, said his biggest challenge was how to get the pampered western viewers to change their lifestyles to be more climate friendly.

"People don't worry or feel concerned about what they can't see. In television, we need authentic and compelling visuals to tell our stories. Even then, it is hard to motivate audiences on climate impacts happening thousands of kilometres from the comfort of their homes," he said.

Jesper Zolk urged journalists to focus not just on problems, but also on viable solutions. He too shared a concern that some journalists covering environmental issues sound more like green activists.

Dr N Bhaskara Rao, chairman of the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), India, noted how polls have repeatedly shown the environment to be among the top six public concerns in India. "This remains so even during election times."

At the outset, Darryl D'Monte, chair of the Forum of Environmental Journalists of India (FEJI), asked participants to reflect on whether the media is part of the problem or the solution in the current crisis.

Parallel to the main congress, there were also workshops on Sustainable Transport and Energy Use, and on Computer assisted reporting (CAR): Using the Internet, Search Engines and Excel for Environmental Journalists/

The International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ) was formed in Dresden, Germany, in 1993. It has many associations of environmental journalists from around the world as its members, along with individual journalists. In total, IFEJ networks journalists from some 70 countries.

The 2009 IFEJ Congress was organised in collaboration with the Forum of Environmental Journalists of India (FEJI) and CMS Academy of Communication and Convergence Studies, New Delhi. The congress was supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India, Government of Denmark, Oxfam India, ClimateWorks, Norwegian Embassy in India, and WWF India.