Journalists with interest in climate related issues have been equipped to enhance their reportage on the banks and biodiversity no go policy.
For the strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND), the media cannot be sidelined in the efforts to create public awareness on some of the negative activities of the bank that was affecting the environment.
The Banks and Biodiversity No Go Policy is an active campaign plan of Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) in partnership with Friends of the Earth (FoE) US.
Speaking at a Media Engagement organised by the Biodiversity Team of SYND, the Focal Point lead, Ms. Gifty Eliklim Agbenyefia explained that, for the Biodiversity No Go policy to yield results, the ‘watchdogs’ of the society, (media) could not be left out of the process.
The policy she pointed out had eight targeted points that clearly stated areas banks were supposed to invest in.
She said some of the banks were unconsciously financing project that destroyed the environment and are yet to develop robust policies or practices to address the biodiversity impacts of their lending”.
Citing mining projects that had been financed by banks with the sole aim of looking at profits, Ms. Agbenyefia stated that, those initiatives had destroyed the environment and if care not taken would have dire consequence on the life of the citizenry.
“We can talk about the Densu river, we can talk about mangroves, we can talk about wetlands, which are currently becoming housing grants for building projects in our country”, she noted
It is in this regard, she explained the media needed to extend its ‘watchdog’ role in ensuring that, banks don’t finance or invest in projects that destroys the numerous ecosystems such as river bodies, forests among others.
“These are ecosystems that has been in existence for years, so why should we engage in activities that would us at risk”, she quest. ne.
However, she was quick to say that, sometimes the banks were not aware of how some of their funded projects were destroying the ecosystem but believed that, when the media publishes such stories, it will awaken the banks.
To her, continuous highlighting and hammering on such harmful projects funded by banks would streamline the No Go Policy’ in its agreements to safeguard the ecosystem.
“We want the media to be able to understand our position on the banks and biodiversity global policy. And then populate the idea in that regard”, she emphasized.
Meanwhile, she hinted at some progress made after some engagement with the banks.
Some of the media personnel present at the media engagement pledged to join the fight in ensuring that, bfundfunds environmental Sustainability projects in the country through their various media channels
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY