Tuning in to Climate Action: Phalaphala FM Leads the Conversation on Climate Change at World Radio Day Celebration

Phalaphala FM, a leading Tshivenda-language radio station, will be celebrating World Radio Day at the University of Venda on the 13^th of February.

This year’s celebration is centred around the critical topic of “The Role of Radio on Educating Communities about Climate Change”. As part of the celebrations, Phalaphala FM will host a panel discussion, workshops, and other interactive actives that will explore the vital role of radio in educating communities about climate change.

The event will bring together experts, academics and community leaders to share their insights and experiences on the topic. “As a radio station we recognize the critical role we play in educating and informing our listeners about climate change. We believe that radio has the power to inspire action, promote sustainable lifestyles, and support climate resilience.”

The event is open to students, staff, and members of the community. It promises to be an informative celebration World Radio Day, highlighting the importance of radio in promoting climate awareness and action, as Climate Change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, with far-reaching consequences for our planet, our communities, and our way of life.

Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and devastating natural disasters are just a few of many climates related challenges we face in Limpopo, although Limpopo is considered as the most vulnerable province in South Africa when it comes to climate change issues affecting the region.

Here Are Some of Ways World Radio Day Associates with Climate Change:

• Raising Awareness: Radio is a powerful medium for raising awareness about climate change, its impacts and the need for sustainable practices with Community-Based Initiatives. Organizing workshops and training sessions for local communities, farmers and youth to educate them on climate change impacts and adaptation strategies.
• Supporting climate change resilience: Radio can help communities prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters, such as hurricanes, droughts, and floods. Construct roads and bridges that can withstand extreme weather events and build water harvesting and storage systems to collect and store rainwater for non-potable uses; with the implementation of flood protection measures, such as levees, floodwalls, and wetlands restoration.

Utilizing the community radio stations to broadcast climate change-related messages, interviews, and discussions, and developing and implementing climate change education programs in schools to raise awareness among children and youth.

This year, World Radio Day was dedicated to highlight the power of broadcasting to bring climate change issues to prominence. The Limpopo Province has been identified as the most vulnerable province in terms of climate change impact, not only in terms of changes in average temperatures and rainfall patterns, but also through changes in extreme events. Limpopo will, likely, become hotter and drier, with more extreme rainfall events during the summer. Agriculture and food production are considering the sectors most vulnerable to climate risk. Additional adverse factors include livestock mortality and decreasing water security.

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) supports radio stations like Climate Radio Route in their journalistic coverage of this year's theme because it believes that radio is the most dependable medium. Adrián Martínez, the head of La Ruta del Clima, the Climate Route, a Costa Rican non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes public participation in climate and environmental decisions, has been attending and advocating at the United Nations (UN) climate conferences since 2014. “Radio in all its versions, whether digital or transmitted by antennas, is super important because it democratizes,” he told UN News.

NGOs have been instrumental in influencing the course of international climate negotiations over the years, pushing for more robust pledges from countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As the UN climate conferences changed, so did the tactics used by NGOs.

Also, the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Department of Communication and Media, in collaboration with SABC Radio just like Phalaphala FM, commemorated UNESCO World Radio Day on Thursday, 13 February 2025. This year’s theme, Radio and Climate Change, underscored the medium’s role in raising awareness and driving conversations about one of the most pressing global challenges.

Speaking at the event, Dr Sifiso Zondo, Head of the School of Communication, highlighted radio’s adaptability and enduring relevance in people’s lives worldwide. From community radio stations in rural areas to major global broadcasters, radio fosters inclusivity, diversity, and democracy. It informs, entertains, and educates—ensuring that knowledge and culture are shared widely. As a university dedicated to advancing knowledge and global engagement, we are proud to support these discussions. Radio is more than a medium; it is a tool for empowerment, a voice for marginalised communities, and a driver of positive social change in Africa and beyond.”

Because of this, radio is particularly important in underdeveloped countries and areas where millions of people lack access to information and education. Radio's unquestionable reach enables communities to act before to, during, and following a tragedy.

In recent decades, South Africa's vegetation has seen substantial changes and a decline in biodiversity due to habitat loss, increasing land use, and climate change. he Limpopo Province in the North-East of South Africa exemplifies anthropogenic threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services (Reyers, 2004). In particular, rural smallholder farmers in the region depend heavily on natural resources and are therefore prone to environmental, economic and social impacts caused by climate change and land use intensification (Twine et al., 2003, Gbetibou2o, 2009).

The reason why it is essential to utilize Radio to rise an awareness to the communities, is because Radio is accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, education level, or geographical location; and it’s also simple and delivers a message clear to the community. Radio allows for simple and clear messaging, making it easier for listeners to understand complex issues.

Climate Route Radio productions were self-contained and include climate summits, a still, with community interviews and online interviews with people around the world in English or Spanish now that it was broadcasted in all the radio stations in SABC (South African Broadcasting) that broadcast in 12 official South African languages.

Conclusion

In celebration of World Radio Day, Phalaphala FM's initiatives to increase climate change awareness in Limpopo are a potent reminder of the vital role that radio plays in advancing environmental preservation and sustainable development. We can encourage habit change, motivate action, and strengthen climate resilience in local communities by utilizing radio's influence. Let's keep encouraging and supporting radio-based projects that create change and advance a more sustainable future for all.

Written By: Nyandano Tshikororo

Edited By: Nhlanhla Moshomo