How often do you see television channels broadcasting news on climate change and energy transition as it relates to your community? Or how often do you see climate change stories getting prime spots in newspapers that get your eyes glued to? It’s likely far less frequent than covering more immediate issues like crime, politics, law or business.
Extreme individual weather events like storms, cyclones, rain, drought, and heatwaves do receive media attention whenever they occur as the impact is unavoidable and the threat is more immediate. Even then, the coverage rarely connects these events to climate change.
Since the media sphere of today is so dominated by algorithms, clicks, and viewership, it may seem like climate change is not immediate enough to earn the attention of the public.
However, climate change is somewhat known to the general public -- people are more or less aware of the crisis. But what about the energy transition?
Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and the main driver of global warming which leads to extreme weather, sea level rise, and loss of biodiversity -- the challenges that Bangladesh is already facing. Do people genuinely care, though?
Let’s get back to the Paris Agreement in 2015. It commits nations to limit global temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Transitioning to renewable energy from fossil fuels is key to achieving this, as carbon dioxide -- the most abundant greenhouse gas and primary driver of climate change -- is mainly released through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
Despite these commitments, governments across the globe still plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than be consistent with limiting warming. Global coal production even reached a record high in 2024. The power sector has been the main driver of coal demand growth, with electricity generation from coal reaching an all-time high in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. Coal accounts for 26% of the world’s total energy consumption, and despite promises of a green revolution, fossil fuels -- oil, gas, and coal -- still make up 82% of the global energy mix.
On the other hand, climate scientists have been saying again and again that the easiest and most effective solution for us could be transitioning to clean energy sources like solar and wind. This shift could reduce our dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, protecting economies from fuel price shocks as well. Yet, ironically, the issue of energy transition remains one of the least discussed topics in the Bangladeshi news media.
One of the major challenges Bangladesh is facing today is meeting its energy needs. The country heavily relies on imported fossil fuels, particularly natural gas and oil. Its heavy dependence on imports and inadequate domestic production make Bangladesh vulnerable to price fluctuations in the global energy market that can lead to energy shortages, which can impact the country's economic stability and hinder further growth as well.
This transition to clean energy is thus critical for Bangladesh and requires strong support and awareness from the public, government, and stakeholders. Building this awareness is challenging but possible -- especially if news media and civil society organizations (CSOs) jointly play active roles in promoting clean energy.
Now, bringing it home to people that climate change is the issue of our times, that is the most vital work of all. It's not a technological challenge; the world already has most of what we need. The challenge is bringing together enough momentum of public opinion, that those in power are then forced to change the system towards making it sustainable. Especially in countries like Bangladesh, where we are too busy trying to make lives better, we need civil society actors and organizations to step up to create awareness and a call to action.
Stakeholders believe better collaboration between CSOs and the media is essential for driving knowledge-sharing efforts that benefit all parties. A strong media role in promoting renewable energy can accelerate the adoption of green technologies, increase the use of clean energy across industries, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
The key challenge is translating the energy transition into meaningful, easy-to-understand communication, keeping in mind that people rarely change their minds after a single conversation and even the best communicators can’t persuade everyone.
In Bangladesh, this challenge is even greater due to the lack of resources, and a lack of media interest in persuading engaging content that drives public demand. CSOs working on energy transition also have limited collaboration with the media and of course an unclear understanding of scope of work together. So, bridging these gaps in understanding and cooperation is essential.
News outlets can consistently inform the public about the scope of sustainable development, environmental conservation, and renewable energy. Sensible news outlets can collaborate with the government and civil society to green initiatives such as reforestation efforts and clean energy campaigns. They can cover success stories on renewable electricity generation, inspiring further government action and public support.
Investigative journalism can be the key to exposing corruption or unsustainable practices holding policy-makers accountable. We can hope that the news media partners with CSOs, academic institutions, and government bodies to promote these vital discussions -- it may be what saves our country in the future.
Ashif Islam is Communications Coordinator at Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI). Email: [email protected].
