Broadcasters from across the Asia-Pacific, including the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) and the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) of Papua New Guinea, are this week being introduced to Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to help strengthen climate change reporting.

The week-long workshop, organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in partnership with UNESCO, has brought together journalists, producers, and media executives to explore how AI can be used to research climate data, simplify complex science, and create more engaging content for audiences.

Nabeel Tirmazi of AIBD explained that the training is designed to provide broadcasters with practical tools to improve the way they tell climate stories.
“AI is not here to replace journalists,” he said. “It’s here to support them – to save time, to fact-check information quickly, and to help turn scientific reports into stories that ordinary people can connect with. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need to use every tool available to explain it clearly.”

Participants are learning how AI can sift through large datasets, generate graphics, and highlight trends that may otherwise go unnoticed. Trainers highlighted that this can be especially valuable for broadcasters in small island nations and vulnerable regions, where resources are limited but the impacts of climate change are deeply felt.

The workshop also emphasises ethics and responsibility, underscoring that while AI can assist, final editorial judgment must always rest with journalists.

For VBTC and NBC, the training presents an opportunity to bring innovative storytelling methods back to their audiences at home, where communities are already living with the effects of sea level rise, extreme weather, and shifting agricultural patterns.

By the end of the training, participants are expected to leave with practical skills to produce content that is more accurate, engaging, and relevant to the public.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition that the media has a vital role to play in building public understanding of climate risks, and that new technology can be a powerful ally in that mission.