The 7th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention to be held in the Maldives has commenced in Crossroads Maldives.
The summit is attended by about 150 participants. These include experts from the Maldives and abroad. The summit will bring together leading media figures from the Asia Pacific region and climate activists. The summit hosted by Public Service Media (PSM) is being held from May 9-10. The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aiminath Shauna as the Chief Guest.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary General of ABU Ahmed Nadheem welcomed the attendees of the summit and said the attendance of delegates from over 40 countries shows the importance given by public broadcasters to climate action. He noted public broadcasting has failed if the public broadcaster fails to inform the public on matters related to climate change. He also spoke on the importance of providing fact-based information when notifying about climate change and natural disasters.
Moreover, speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of PSM Ali Khalid stated the Maldives is the perfect choice to hold the summit when speaking about climate action and natural disasters. He also mentioned the importance of all media public broadcasters working together to keep the public well informed.
Hosted by PSM, ABU’s member in the Maldives, and with the support of the government, the summit will focus on critical issues related to climate change and disaster prevention. It will emphasise the media’s role in addressing these challenges, particularly within ABU’s diverse membership. The summit will offer attendees the chance to interact with keynote speakers, participate in panel discussions and workshops, and network with like-minded professionals. The event is an exclusive opportunity to gain valuable insights into the most recent climate communication trends and best practices.
The ABU was launched in 1964 to support the development of broadcasting in the Asia and Pacific region. The ABU promotes the interests of television and radio broadcasters as well as key industry players and promotes regional and international media. The ABU has more than 70 member countries including Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea.