Pakistan media outlet wins top honour for climate reporting

Pakistan is home to one of the highest concentrations of glaciers outside the polar regions, but the breathtaking landscapes are ticking timebombs for local villagers.

Melting ice can cause glacial lakes to suddenly burst their banks. Farms, livestock, bridges and transportation routes in the country’s Gilgit-Baltistan region can be wiped out with little warning. The impact of climate change could push up to 9 million Pakistani people into poverty, the World Bank estimates.

IMS media partner Ibex Media Network has long reported on the impact of global warming on remote mountain communities through podcasts, documentaries and news reports. Its monthly average reach is 4 million users across all platforms.

In December, Ibex won the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s Dr Andreas Schild Memorial Mountain Prize 2024 for its climate change reporting.

“Our storytelling is helping remote mountain communities: by documenting and amplifying local solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation, sharing best practices with communities to reduce their carbon footprint and raising awareness of disaster preparedness measures,” Abdul Mujeeb, the CEO and co-founder of Ibex Media Network, said. “We feel women are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, so we have created a collaborative digital space for women from local communities.”

One recent Ibex report delved into the silent distress felt by many remote mountain communities because of repeated environmental disasters. The report noted that the prolonged disruption of roads can deepen the sense of isolation, leaving communities cut off from essential services, including healthcare.

“Imagine having sleepless nights because the next flood could hit your home, or a sudden glacial lake outburst could wash away your property. Communities in fragile ecosystems like that of Gilgit Baltistan are grappling with anxiety, depression and trauma. These mental health issues are the result of repeated
displacements and loss of livelihoods.”

Abdul Mujeeb, who attended the award ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal, said the award has increased their determination to use their public interest journalism to support local climate action.

Ibex recently lost 10 percent of its budget because of the US funding freeze. “We have had to abandon a planned content series and drop our plans to expand our team,” Abdul Mujeeb said.

Despite the difficult financial climate, Ibex is determined to keep reporting on the unique landscape in its patch – where some 10,000 glaciers across the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalayan Mountain ranges are receding, according to experts.