The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launched Saturday a new book titled "Environmental Media and the Necessity of Development", as part of its participation in the 34th edition of Doha International Book Fair, held under the theme "From Engraving to Writing."
The book, authored by Ahmed Hussein al-Mutawa, an environmental consultant at the Ministry, highlights the importance of media in serving environmental causes and the role environmental media plays in raising awareness and promoting the principles of environmental sustainability.
The author discusses the difference between general media coverage of environmental issues and specialized environmental media, which tackles these topics in a professional and analytical manner. He stresses the need for specialized environmental media to reflect the growing local, regional, and international interest in environmental affairs.
The book points out the importance of developing a media system that keeps up pace with environmental changes and effectively supports environmental policies through adopting innovative ideas and initiatives and building partnerships with various stakeholders. A full chapter is dedicated to discuss key environmental issues in the GCC region and the Arab countries, reviewing current challenges and possible solutions, which enhances the book’s scientific value.
Accordingly, al-Mutawa affirmed the importance of environmental media in protecting the environment, whether through news coverage or awareness programmes. He stressed the need for professional investigative journalism that addresses the human right to a safe and healthy environment.
However, he noted that the impact of environmental media in Qatar remains limited, attributing this to the lack of interest among media professionals in this field and the prioritization of commercial content over substantive reporting, which has led to a decline in focus on environmental issues.
Eventually, al-Mutawa called for intensifying efforts in environmental education and awareness, in addition to overcoming the challenges facing environmental media so it can contribute effectively to achieving the national goals of sustainable development.
