In a country hailed for its remarkable achievements in protecting the environment, a quiet struggle unfolds. Environmental journalism in Rwanda faces a complex web of laws and policies that support and stifle its growth at the same time. As the world grapples with issues of climate change and sustainability, Rwanda's experience offers valuable insights into the intricate balance between governance and green reporting. Rwanda has made significant strides in environmental conservation, boasting of a forest cover increase from 18% to 30% in the last two decades. This progress has nonetheless come at a price. Journalists seeking to shed light on environmental issues often find themselves navigating a legal labyrinth.

The Legal Tightrope
While Rwanda’s 2018 Media Law outlines articles supporting press freedom, the picture is not entirely green since the same legislation has provisions on defamation and spreading false information, as outlined in Article 38 and 39 respectively. This has consequently cast a shadow on investigative environmental journalism, and potentially hindered some of the efforts to expose wrongdoings on the environment. Two further legislations that complicate the matter are the National Security Law (2019) and the 2013 Access to Information Law.

Article 15 of the National Security law restricts reporting on sensitive subjects, such as defence and national security. This can be widely understood to cover environmental issues, particularly those pertaining to resource extraction or regions that the government has designated as sensitive. This broad interpretation may severely limit the coverage of important environmental issues by the media. The 2013 Access to Information Law on the other hand, defines terms related to information access, including; confidential information, public interest, and vital information. However, it has broad exemptions, restricting access to information related to national security, administration of justice, and trade secrets. This makes it more difficult for journalists to research and cover environmental issues by limiting their access to government data. Journalists find it difficult to produce thorough and accurate environmental reporting when they do not have access to essential information or government pronouncements. Additionally, limitations on access to sensitive areas, particularly those related to national security or resource extraction (potentially linked to the National Security Law 2019), can restrict journalists from acquiring crucial information. While intended to protect individuals and national security, these clauses can be used to silence journalists who dare to criticize government policies or corporate actions on the environment.

Uneven Coverage: A Patchwork Quilt
The landscape of environmental coverage in Rwandan media is far from uniform. Interviews reveal a "patchwork quilt" approach, with some outlets prioritizing environmental stories and others dedicating less space. Some media outlets, particularly those with a strong focus on science or conservation, for example The New Times, Rwanda Television, and Radio Rwanda, actively prioritize stories about the environment. They dedicate resources to covering environmental triumphs such as the successful gorilla conservation efforts, highlighting the positive impact of Rwanda's environmental initiatives. These outlets play a vital role in raising public awareness about environmental issues and fostering a sense of national pride in Rwanda's conservation achievements. Nonetheless, other media outlets such as Kigali Today and The Chronicles, often focus on breaking news or political coverage. They dedicate less space to environmental issues. These outlets may prioritize immediate political or economic news that has a more direct impact on daily life. This leaves environmental stories competing for attention, potentially leading to less comprehensive reporting on critical challenges therein.

Despite the valiant efforts of some journalists, several challenges hinder comprehensive environmental reporting in Rwanda. In-depth environmental investigations often require significant resources for travel, equipment, and data analysis. Unfortunately, funding constraints limit the scope and depth of environmental reporting in some Rwandan media outlets. This can lead to a reliance on press releases or readily available information, potentially overlooking crucial aspects of environmental issues.

As observed in the article 'World Press Freedom Day: What are the gaps in environmental reporting?' Joan Mbabazi, the Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Media Council (RMC), noted that the media’s role in advancing environmental justice is as crucial as the justice for the media profession itself. She noted that quality journalism that reports on public issues requires support in all forms, including financial.

While not always overt, a sense of intimidation can hang in the air for environmental journalists. Although not a constant threat, the fear of legal repercussions or difficulty accessing information due to the legal framework discussed earlier can lead to self-censorship. Further investigation into press freedom in practice is necessary to understand the full extent of this challenge.
The founder of Rwanda Environmental Journalists, Sadiki Rubangura, emphasises that such challenges create a complex situation for environmental journalists in Rwanda. Despite their dedication, these limitations can make it difficult to provide the public with a truly comprehensive picture of Rwanda's environment-scape, highlighting both its triumphs and challenges. "Transparency and access to information are crucial in reporting on the environment. By empowering journalists with the resources and training needed, we can hold policy makers accountable and drive real change,” Rubangura noted.

A Glimpse of Green Support
Despite these challenges, Rwanda has taken positive steps to support environmental journalism. The Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) recognizes the importance of a well-informed public and collaborates with media outlets through their Media Engagement Strategy (2020). This strategy aims to bridge the gap between journalists and environmental institutions by facilitating access to environmental data and experts. REMA also organizes workshops and training sessions to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills necessary for accurate environmental reporting.

The Ministry of Environment (MoE) complements these efforts with its own Media Training Program (2018). This program provides targeted training and capacity-building for journalists specifically focused on environmental issues. The program helps journalists develop a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Rwanda, learn best practices for investigative environmental journalism, and refine their skills in data analysis and environmental science communication. The National Environment Policy (2019) took a significant step forward by explicitly recognizing the media's crucial role in raising public awareness and promoting sustainable development (Articles 12 & 13). This policy endorsement sends a positive message about the value and importance of environmental journalism in Rwanda. Initiatives such as the Rwanda Environmental Journalists Network (REJ) have also emerged, providing training and resources for journalists to effectively cover environmental issues.

Rubangura highlighted the need for journalists to be trained in fact-checking to ensure accurate reporting, stressing that the absence of reliable data that trends on environmental topics is a significant barrier to combating mis-information. In addition is the limited expertise among journalists in reporting on environmental issues, which results in a shortage of specialized reporters. "Since its founding in 2019, the Rwanda Environmental Journalists (REJ) network has advanced specialized environmental reporting with impressive results. With assistance from Internews' Earth Journalism Network, we have arranged workshops to advance journalistic proficiency in this area. To promote the function of journalists, collaboration across diverse stakeholders is vital. Unfortunately, there is not much co-operation at the moment,” Rubangura further noted.

The Voices on Ground
Environmental journalists in Rwanda walk a tightrope between ambition and anxiety. While acknowledging the positive initiatives like REMA's Media Engagement Strategy and the MoE's Media Training Program, they also express concerns about the legal landscape. Mugisha, a journalist, highlights the fear of legal repercussions as a major source of anxiety.

"The fear of being accused of defamation or promoting false information hangs over us like a sword of Damocles. It is a constant balancing act between telling the stories that need to be told and avoiding legal repercussions," he notes.

The broad interpretations of laws such as the National Security Law and the potential for defamation charges can lead to self-censorship. Journalists often feel constrained, worried that critical reporting on environmental issues could be misconstrued as a threat to national security or lead to legal trouble. "The government has made significant efforts to create an enabling environment for environmental journalism," he notes gurther. "However, there is still a need for greater clarity and consistency in the legal framework to ensure that journalists can operate freely and effectively."

Investigative journalism is seen as a vital "watchdog" for Rwanda's environment. By exposing environmental degradation and holding authorities accountable for sustainable development practices, environmental journalists can play a crucial role in protecting Rwanda's natural resources. Highlighting success stories is another crucial aspect of environmental journalism. Stories about successful conservation efforts, like the gorilla rehabilitation program, can inspire public action and encourage community involvement. These positive narratives can foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for Rwanda's environment among the public.

A Call for Transparency: Unlocking the Power of Green Ink
A vibrant environmental press is essential for Rwanda's future. Moving forward, a continued dialogue with various stakeholders is necessary. This dialogue should involve the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), media outlets themselves, environmental experts, and most importantly, the journalists on ground. Mugisha noted that RMC has already conducted regional workshops to acquaint journalists with the complexities surrounding the work of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and to facilitate networking and information sharing.

By working together, they can address the legal hurdles and foster a media environment that empowers investigative reporting. Additionally, promoting open access to information is crucial. Journalists need unfettered access to government data and the ability to report freely on sensitive environmental issues. Only through a more transparent and supportive media environment can the true power of "Green Ink" be unleashed. By striking a balance between press freedom and responsible reporting, Rwanda can unleash the full potential of environmental journalism and inspire a new generation of ‘green reporters’.