Finding common ground: the framing of environmental issues in climate-sceptical discourses

Abstract

Research into climate scepticism often conflates environmental and climate issues, portraying climate supporters as ‘pro-environment’ and climate sceptics as ‘anti-environment’. This polarising narrative overlooks the environmental care previous research has found among climate-sceptical populations, fuels inertia among climate-supportive groups and limits the potential for collective action. Through qualitative content analysis, this dissertation challenges this narrative by examining how environmental issues are framed in 100 news media posts published by six influential US and UK climate-sceptical news websites, think tanks and blogs (2021–2024). It found that 49% of posts express some concern for environmental issues, particularly pollution, biodiversity loss and landscape destruction. The analysis also revealed potential overlaps between climate-supportive and climate-sceptical discourses in the concerns raised for disadvantaged groups and the types of arguments being waged on both sides to discredit each other’s claims. Ultimately, this dissertation offers suggestions for more inclusive and effective climate communication, built on common ground.