The effects of climate change are posing a threat to earth and its inhabitants. There is no dearth of knowledge about climate change, and concern across the globe is not an issue today. The concern, however, is how to shift this issue from the elite to the grassroots as they are the major actors for adapting and mitigating climate change effects. And translating the knowledge gathered so far into action is today’s major climate change agenda.

Adequately addressing two crucial questions can help reach out to all stakeholders in Nepal. The questions are: What impact is climate change having on our country and across the world? What are the most effective ways of communicating climate change issues to the people? The government can make the general public aware about the adverse effects of climate change. As the grassroots level is directly involved in farming, industrial work and other interlinked activities, and accounts for a larger section of the population, it can contribute to mitigating climate change problems through changes in their lives and occupations.

Climate change effects can be minimised only through a change in anthropogenic activities. Since the climate is directly linked with the entire life of this planet, disseminating information about its key aspects in an effective manner from the central to the grassroots levels is imperative. People from different walks of like who can contribute from their side should be aware of the fundamental issues related to climate change effects. It is impossible to motivate people to participate without making them understand some basic aspects like weather and climate, greenhouse gas formation, glacier melting and global warming, and their effects on human lives and livelihoods—and the entire ecosystem.

Impact-creating media content can be highly useful to bring a change in human activities. Stopping deforestation and enhancing forestation and changing agricultural and industrial modes of production to cope with climate change risks can make a real contribution. Promoting clean energy and minimising the use of fossil fuels and managing urbanisation and industrialisation are other important concerns that need to be tackled.

The media can play a part in helping policymakers adopt suitable policies. This needs trained and well educated media practitioners. Only those who are familiar with climate change issues can motivate all stakeholders through their stories. At times, creating due pressure on the authorities is essential, and competent media practitioners can do this through their contents. Exposing blunders made by the government and private sector through media outlets can bring them to the right track.

According to climate scientists, Nepal has been identified as the fourth most vulnerable zone for climate change effects. For instance, at least 28 people were killed and around 1,000 were injured in Bara and Parsa districts due to a rainstorm recently. If the settlements and structures were strong and the people were aware about dealing with such situations, they would have been able to save their lives and property from such natural calamities, most of which are regarded to be adverse effects of climate change. The general public should have knowledge about drought, torrential rain, appropriate agricultural methods and precautions against possible health problems due to climate change. The main vulnerable communities include the poor, children, women and elderly people.

Formulating the necessary policies and implementing them at all three tiers of government—local, provincial and federal—can lead towards a transformation in this field. Nepal needs to link local concerns with global forums. Many international forums at the United Nations and other global institutions are working for climate change concerns. Nepal has a very low hazardous gas emission level. Moreover, 40 percent of the country’s land area is covered by forests, and this is a substantial contribution towards minimising the unfavourable effects of climate change. But Nepal has not been compensated for this by the developed countries that are more responsible for causing the greenhouse effect through their industrialisation and urbanisation.

Since climate change is a global agenda, the media can become a vehicle to connect all humans to save our planet and our lives from possible dangers from climate change. Most importantly, no effort can have a tangible effect unless people at the grassroots level are motivated and activated for the mitigation and adaptation of climate change challenges. For this to happen, the government, private and community media should make integrated efforts. The government can play a leading role to bring all kinds of media together for the cause of a safe planet with happiness and prosperity. Developing a proper communication mechanism and educating media persons about cross-cutting issues relating to climate change is imperative.

Acharya is a lecturer of Journalism at Tribhuvan University.