2nd ABU Media Summit successfully ends in Thai South

KRABI, THAILAND, May 13 (TNA) - The 2nd Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction has been successfully wrapped up in Thailand's southern resort Krabi Province, with an action plan jointly endorsed by representatives of media organizational members in the region and other relevant parties. The 2nd ABU Summit, held at the Maritime Park and Spa Resort Hotel, was wrapped up on Friday after two-day discussions by the participants who agreed that the escalating climate change or the global warming problem has affected every aspect of human life, ranging from food, water and energy security to international security, as well as from the health of the global economy to the health of regional children. The over 200 participants, representing regional media organizations, UN agencies, government bodies, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), also agreed that the challenges require their collective efforts and responsibility to communicate, educate and inspire all groups of stakeholders and societies for a collective action for the sake of the better and more sustainable future for all. At the end of the latest May 12-13 summit, the participants endorsed the Krabi Media Action Plan, jointly billed by the Kuala Lumpur-based ABU and the Bangkok-based Thai Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), the co-hosts of the 2nd ABU Summit. The content of the Krabi Media Action Plan includes a joint commitment to playing a key role and upholding a moral and ethical responsibility to communicate information on the climate change to serve the public of all groups, especially those considered most vulnerable such as the poor, women and children, the elderly and even persons with disabilities (PWDs). Besides, the regional broadcast media are also committed to generally disseminating information on the mitigation, preparation, resilience and response to natural disasters to individuals, communities, nations and regions, including those aggravated or induced by human activities, with relief and recovery efforts following any disaster. In parallel, the regional broadcast media agreed to initiate or continue their climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) conversations with their business and broadcast partners and affiliates, including local, national or regional organizations to which they ascribe, along with fostering and strengthening their relationship with climate change and DRR stakeholders, as well as practitioners, including governments, the United Nations’ agencies, international organizations (IOs), NGOs, Community Support Organizations CSOs, private initiatives and public-private partnerships (PPPs). The regional broadcast media also agreed to contribute their technical expertise and capacities to stakeholders, practitioners or communities in the development, production, and broadcasting of climate change and DRR informational stories, news pieces and announcements. The Krabi Media Action Plan was based on the Jakarta Statement of Commitment, adopted at the inaugural ABU Media Summit in 2014, and consistent with prioritized areas highlighted in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Voluntary Commitment Statement issued by the Media Stakeholders Group in Sendai 2015. (TNA)