The Magic Wand of Communication in Multicultural Climate Action

I was in Lomé to moderate and provide communication guidance to the West Africa Hub of the Independent Global Stocktake regional workshop in Togo, where climate leaders gathered with one goal in mind: to ignite climate action. The energy in the room was electric as government representatives, climate experts, and civil society actors joined forces to review and enhance regional climate plans. Together, we witnessed a collective commitment to a more sustainable future.


This workshop took place against the backdrop of an important milestone. A technical Report on West African countries' commitment towards fighting climate change has been disseminated with UNFCCC focal points from 15 West African countries. Well, the outcome of the report can be discussed another day.

But what struck me most was the power of effective climate communication in the midst of dissenting views on the report(which is normal, when it doesn't favour you). Meaningful dialogue and inclusive engagement were at the heart of every session, sparking connections and emphasising the need for collaboration. Evidence-based decision-making and joint action emerged as the foundation for the region’s growing climate ambition.

Working with stakeholders from multi-cultural backgrounds was daunting. But in the end, effective communication received the gold medal. It was refreshing to see how the magic wand of effective communication came alive.

Leaving Togo, I carried with me a deeper understanding of the importance of clear, inclusive communication in climate diplomacy. As a storyteller and climate communicator, I believe that working together to ensure our efforts yield real results is the way forward. Every meeting and every partnership in the interest of climate resilience must truly matter. The time for climate action is now. Let’s make it count.


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