PANAS! Climate Change Stories in Malaysia -

The PANAS! Climate Change Stories in Malaysia initiative began in 2021 as an effort to rethink how climate change is reported and communicated in Malaysia. At its core, PANAS! is grounded in evidence-based reporting, but it recognises that facts and data alone are not enough. Climate change must be understood through lived experiences, cultural contexts, and local realities. From the outset, PANAS! has centred human-focused storytelling, multilingual engagement, and collaboration between scientists and journalists. Over time, as the project evolved, we recognised the need to move away from “doom-and-gloom” framing and towards solutions journalism, highlighting credible responses, community innovation, and adaptation efforts already underway.

Our Journey

2021 – Translating Climate Science for Malaysia
Our first project responded to the release of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, supporting journalists and content creators to translate global climate science into relatable Malaysian stories. The focus was on communities navigating floods, rising heat, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity — and on reframing coverage to focus on human-centred narratives that resonate locally.

Building Bridges Between Science and Policy
The PANAS! Science Journalism Workshop 2025 brought together journalists, scientists, communicators, and policymakers to strengthen climate reporting and science communication. This interdisciplinary effort deepened cross-sector collaboration and equipped media practitioners to report on climate issues in ways that inform public discourse, governance, and policy development.

2025 – Deepening Climate Storytelling
The PANAS! Climate Storytelling Workshop 2025 continues this trajectory by deepening collaboration between journalists, content creators, and experts. It emphasises evidence-based, human-focused, solutions-oriented stories — encouraging participants to examine not only the impacts of climate change but also the responses, limitations, and lessons that can guide future action.

Across all phases, PANAS! remains exploratory yet intentional: testing new storytelling formats, fostering partnerships, and building a community of practice for climate communication in Malaysia.