MEDIA RELEASE
On this Earth Day, we mark the closure of the PANAS! Climate Storytelling, a project dedicated to rethinking how climate stories are told in Malaysia.
Supported by the British Council’s Alumni UK Climate Action Grant, the initiative brought together journalists, content creators, and storytellers to produce climate stories that are grounded in evidence, shaped by local realities, and centred on people.
From Climate Impacts to Climate Responses
Across the project, participants explored a wide range of climate issues affecting Malaysia — from recurring floods and rising heat to pressures on food systems and community resilience.
But the stories did not stop at documenting challenges.
Instead, they focused on responses: how communities are adapting, what solutions are being tested, and what lessons can be drawn for the future. This reflects a deliberate shift towards solutions journalism — reporting that examines not only what is going wrong, but what is being done about it.
“Climate stories are not just about crisis — they are also about response, resilience, and possibility.”
Building Skills, Bridging Gaps
Through workshops, mentoring, and pitching sessions, participants developed their ideas and refined their storytelling approaches. They engaged with experts, received feedback, and strengthened their ability to communicate complex climate issues clearly and responsibly.
This process also created space for collaboration — bridging the gap between science, media, and public communication. In doing so, PANAS! contributes to a growing effort to make climate reporting in Malaysia more rigorous, accessible, and impactful.
A Collection of Local Stories
The outcome is a body of work that reflects the diversity of Malaysia’s climate realities — stories that are human-centred, evidence-based, and grounded in place.
Together, they demonstrate that climate storytelling can move beyond “doom and gloom” narratives, offering audiences a more nuanced understanding of both challenges and solutions.
Explore the stories and project journey HERE
Part of a Global Movement
The PANAS! Climate Storytelling Project is one of 20 initiatives from 12 countries supported under the British Council’s Climate Action grants — highlighting how local storytelling can contribute to global climate action.
To mark this, the Alumni UK’s Climate Action Through Community: Stories from Around the World showcase takes place on 22 April at 7 PM (MYT), bringing together grantees from across regions.
Register HERE
A Collective Effort
The project is led by Tan Su Lin, co-founder of Science Media Centre Malaysia, and supported by a core team of Alumni UK members Kevin Bathman and Natasha Joibi, together with collaborator Deborah Lawrence Aduk from WWF-Malaysia.
PANAS! is part of a broader effort to strengthen climate communication in Malaysia — building capacity, fostering collaboration, and supporting stories that inform, engage, and inspire action.