LAGOS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Monday in Accra solicited media understanding in educating the populace about climate change.

    According to a live web cast monitored, Boer sought the support while opening a media training workshop for journalists covering the UNFCCC sponsored Accra Climate Change Talk.

    He said as many as 250 million Africans would be exposed to increased water stress as a result of impact of climate change adding that rainfall has decreased by over 20 percent in the last 30 years.

    "This calls for a sustained enlightenment campaign which the media plays a central role," he said.

    According to him, with adequate information the populace would support initiatives aimed to cushion the impact of climate change as well as demand positive action from their leaders.

    "Public understanding of the issues of climate change will put pressure on politicians to commit to initiatives aimed at reducing incidents of climate change.

    "It is very important to deepen public understanding of the issues of climate change and to achieve the media has a crucial role to play," he said.

    The Accra Talks which attracted delegates from over 100 countries across the globe aims to discuss technical details of a new climate change treaty scheduled to be completed in Copenhagen, Denmark by the end of 2009.

    The talk will also look at emission reduction rules and tools under the Kyoto Protocol expected to expire in 2012.

    Xinhua learnt that both developed and developing countries are still battling out on the issues of which of them should take the initiatives to begin cuts in emission.