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Journalists should go beyond surface-level stories and examine the systemic drivers of the climate crisis, said Mahima Jain, an independent journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, BBC, Foreign Policy, Caravan, and The Hindu.
Jain said climate change intersects with sectors including aviation, technology, automobiles, agriculture, and energy, and flagged urban infrastructure as a major contributor to emissions.
Jain who delivered a lecture at the Asian College of Journalism on covering climate change explained the difference between global warming and climate change. She said greenhouse gases such as methane is a key concern in India. Jain also explained concepts including carbon credits, greenwashing, and green grabbing.
She advised reporters to link science to society, consult climate scientists, and avoid alarmism by contextualizing extreme weather. Coverage, she said, should go beyond rescue and relief to include rehabilitation, resilience, and long-term adaptation.
For instance, Jain said the Indian Premier League produces 10,000–14,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per match and international tournaments have seen athletes collapse from heat stress. Sports, she said, can broaden audience engagement with climate issues.
Jain said women face disproportionate risks from displacement, livelihood loss, and heat-related pregnancy complications, while the healthcare sector itself contributes over 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. A one health approach, linking human, animal, and ecosystem wellbeing, can help journalists capture these interconnections.
Closing the session, Jain emphasized accountability over advocacy. “Shift the narrative from doom and gloom to hope,” she said. “Tell stories that connect science to people’s lives.”