DEADLINE: EJN Virtual Reporting Fellowships to the UNCBD (COP16) and UNFCCC (COP29)

Internews’ Earth Journalism Network is pleased to announce two separate virtual fellowship programs that will support selected journalists to cover the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). 

The end of 2024 will see two major UN conferences taking place, gathering key stakeholders and decision-makers from around the globe. As biodiversity decline and the climate emergency cause ecological, social and financial upheaval, covering UNCBD COP16 and UNFCCC COP29 negotiations and outcomes will be crucial. 

The UNCBD COP16 conference takes place in Cali, Colombia from 21 October–1 November 2024 . It will see key players examine progress made toward the safeguarding and restoration of biological diversity. COP16 will focus on supporting countries so that their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) align with the Biodiversity Plan, mobilizing and bolstering the means of implementation – primarily funding – and finding a way to govern access and benefit-sharing (ABS), particularly to Digital Sequence Information and genetic material.   

The UNFCCC COP29 will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11–22 November 2024. It will be a key gathering to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement and make progress on Parties’ mitigation and adaptation targets. The priorities of this COP include both upscaling national efforts to reduce carbon emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and negotiating a new climate finance goal, replacing the existing commitment of $100 billion annually until 2025. Success at COP29 hinges on establishing a new goal that is based on the needs of and addresses the previous goal's shortcomings. 

To build journalists knowledge of climate and biodiversity policy and improve their capacity to report on these important conferences, EJN is offering two virtual fellowship opportunities for early-career environmental journalists, or reporters who would like to improve their understanding of the UNFCCC and UNCBD negotiations process and related issues, to enable them to cover these conferences remotely for their outlets. 

Requirements for the two Fellowships are different.

Applications for the UNFCCC COP29 and UNCBD COP16 Virtual Reporting Fellowships will be accepted until 15 August.

Details and application.