Contribution short abstract:

Carefully crafted media narratives explaining how societies combat the triple planetary crisis (TPC) can inspire social action and influence policy. This study highlights best practices in West Africa's active advocacy for climate action using digital technology.

Contribution long abstract:

Despite the serious threat that climate change poses to mankind, climate action is poorly promoted through one of the most powerful and accessible systems in Africa, the media. This is especially true in West African cities, the region most severely affected by potential climatic disasters.

The integration of digital technology with climate action is essential for sustainable futures. Carefully-crafted media narratives that explain how societies combat the triple planetary crisis (TPC), can inspire social action and influence policy. According to UNDP, Africa holds the key to global climate solutions. Hence, it is important to explore African digitally-mediated creative media initiatives, yielding positive gains towards sustainability.

This study, using a desktop review, highlighted strategies in West Africa's active advocacy for climate action using digital technology. These include Côte d’Ivoire’s National Adaptation Plan, Ghana’s 350 Ghana-Reducing Our Carbon (G-ROC), Nigeria’s SurgeX Media, and the UNESCO-strengthened Premium Times Center in Nigeria. The paper is a wake-up call for other countries to emulate these best practices in tackling TPC.