Skewed Press Coverage in the UK and the Importance of Understanding the ‘Real Causes behind Climate Change’ 

1. Objective of Study

To assess the coverage of climate change topics in the UK press over an 18 month period (Feb07-July08). The Aim being to i/ analyse the type of climate change issues / topics being covered and ii/ to determine the extent of coverage focusing on the real causes contributing to climate change.  

2. Background of Study�

The study was backed by www.e-photoframes.co.uk and was carried out by Alex Putnam. Alex is currently undertaking research in Thailand (S.E.Asia) - exploring the ‘Organic Food Market’ within the Thai-Tourist Industry. He graduated with a BA honours degree in BA Geography. 

3. Executive Summary

In his report entitled ‘The Economics of Climate Change’ Sir Nicholas Sterns states that ‘Nearly a quarter (24%) of global carbon emissions are caused by fossil-fuelled energy generation and that emissions from deforestation are very significant - they are estimated to represent more than 18% of global emissions, a share greater than is produced by the global transport sector (2006). To put this into context in the next 24 hours alone, deforestation will release as much C0₂ into the atmosphere as 8 million people flying from London to New York. Yet, based on our findings, in the past 18 months the mainstream UK Press have only published 10 stories on the issue of ‘actual causes’ contributing to climate change, equating to only 10% of the total climate change related reports.   

The table below uses the findings of the study to illustrate just how little coverage is given to the key causes of climate change.

      

     Figure 1.0

Despite the importance of understanding the real causes contributing to climate change, the results of the study suggest that the UK Press are more concerned with covering other Climate Change Issues: 

·         Out of the 102 articles analysed 49% covered the effects/impacts of climate change and only 10% of coverage focused on the causes of climate change. 

•  18% covered the topic of Action i.e. recent policies and government initiatives to try and tackle climate change. 

·         6% discussed issues surrounding C0₂ Footprints and Offsetting. ·         The topic with the least coverage was ‘Campaigns’ (2%) i.e. the action of civil groups and NGOs to try and raise awareness and take action to try and prevent climate change from happening.  

4. Analysis of Articles 

  

Figure 1.2 A Breakdown of how the British press report climate change  

• Effects / Impacts

8% of articles analysed discussed the possible effects/impacts from run-away climate change. Article headlines would often read like a Disaster Novel…. ‘Nearing Meltdown’ or ‘Climate Change May put World at War’.   Articles would cover the issues in which climate change may exacerbate already existing problems- ‘Climate Change May Worsen Health crisis-WHO’ or  ‘Climate Change hits minorities hardest’. Within the articles relating to effects and impacts in-action seemed to be a recurrent theme. Environmental impacts such as drought and famine continue to worsen, but the action taken by global leaders is not enough, -‘Tougher Proposals would be required substantially to reduce the harm caused by climate change’ (The Telegraph 29/05/08). A response to the recent announcements made at this years G8 summit.  

• Causes

In total, the actual causes of Climate Change equated to 10%. Only one article covered the issue of tropical deforestation, ‘Deforestation the hidden cause of global warming’ (The Independent 14/05/07). Three articles covered the issues of land management and agriculture, specifically focusing on the effects of Bio-fuel crops ‘Biofuels make climate change worse, scientific study concludes’ (08/02/08) and the impact of pastoral agriculture, particularly the emissions given off by cattle and other livestock. ‘Reducing ‘Cow Burping is ‘key to tackling climate change’’ (Daily Mail 09/07/08).  In terms of fossil-fuelled energy generation only one article covered the extraction of  ‘dirty oil’ in

Canada and how the activity releases large amounts of emissions into the atmosphere, thus fuelling climate change. There were no articles devoted to the impacts of fossil-fuelled energy generation, i.e. Coal, Oil and Gas power stations and the emissions they emit.  In terms of air aviation, which at present accounts for 2% of global emissions, only one article discussed the analysis of air travel particularly focusing on the condensation trails, nitrogen dioxide and other emissions contributing to climate change ‘BA uses own jets to examine effect of air travel on climate’  (The Times 16/01/08).   One article also discussed the recent theory that cosmic rays and the amount of cloud cover is the main cause of climate change. ‘Cosmic Rays Blamed for Global Warming’ (Daily Telegraph 2/11/07).  The graph below compares the total amount of ‘climate change reporting’ versus ‘actual causes’.  

  (Figure 1.3) 

In total, of the 102 articles analysed, Climate Change reporting (effects, action, CO2 Footprints, Campaigns and Doubters/In-action) accounted for 82% of coverage.  Only 10% covered actual causes and 8% was placed in the  ‘other’ column as it was deemed to be irrelevant to climate change.   

• Action

The attempts to try and tackle climate change accounted for 18% of total coverage. Coverage focused on the attempts by Governments and their recent policy initiatives to deal with climate change ‘The G8 plans 50% reduction in Greenhouse Gases’. (The Independent 08/07/08)  

Alongside this there was the coverage of action being taken by influential figures such as Tony Blair and Arnold Schwarzenegger and their proposed measures of tackling climate change ‘Tony Blair leads ‘Urgent’ campaign to cut global carbon emissions by 50 per cent” (Daily Mail 14/03/08) – ‘Arnie makes climate change plea to Tories- then goes for a drive in his carbon-belching gas guzzler’ (Daily Mail 01/10/07).  Action was also covered in the form of a National Environmental Campaign in Scotalnd ‘A Green Mood Sweeps Scotland’. (Scotsman 12/07/08)   

• In-Action and Doubters

It must also be noted that 8% of coverage focused specifically on in-action alone as well as possible climate change doubting.Articles   

• CO2 Footprints

The concept of reducing our CO₂ Footprints totalled 6% of coverage. In which articles covered initiatives taken by public bodies to try and reduce their CO2 Footprints.  

Articles also exposed particular low-carbon initiatives that were lacking in performance and failing to achieve reductions. ‘Climate Change Envoy’s carbon footprint is 30 times British Average’ (Daily Mail 25/03/07).   Other Articles also explored the concept of carbon offsetting and whether or not such initiatives are actually valid.  Only one articles explored the initiatives of the private sector and how it intends to lower its Carbon Footprint. ‘Sony Leads charge against climate change’ (The Guardian 03/02/08).  

• Campaigns

Only 2% of coverage focused on campaigns. One focussed on the plight of the Orangutan ‘Protesters dressed as Orangutans target beauty company Dove for destroying animal’s forests’ (Daily Telegraph 21/04/08).   Whilst another focussed on the attempt to close down a power station by campaign activists ‘Climate Campaigners threaten to invade and shut down power plant’ (The Independent 11/07/08).  

• ‘Other’

Another 8% of coverage discussed issues such as high oil prices and the problem caused by the high demand for Bio Fuels, thus pushing up food prices.  Despite there importance, these issues were deemed to be less relevant to Climate Change and therefore placed in the ‘Other’ Column.  

5. Conclusion

In his speech at Hudson Theatre, NYC May 2007, Rupert Murdoch stated that:  

‘Becoming carbon neutral is only the beginning. The climate problem will not be solved by one company reducing its emissions to zero, and it won’t be solved by one government acting alone. The climate problem will not be solved without mass participation by the general public in countries around the globe.’ 

 Despite Rupert’s call for global action, the main message that appears to be being broadcast to the public of the UK is that the potential threat from climate change is real and is happening now. Desertification in the Tropics, Glacial melt in the Arctic and the potential threat they pose to both the developing and the developed world are just two of the many climate change effects being covered in the press. However, such a skewed coverage of climate change focussing only on the effects/impacts is failing to inform the public of the real factors contributing to climate change and therefore failing to inform people of the actual measures needed to tackle climate change.  

Surely, in order to know how to cure the current climate crisis, instead of constantly being told what the symptoms are, we the public citizens, ready to take action, should be at least given a correct diagnosis of the disease and what the main causes are.  

Only when Rupert Murdoch and the rest of UK media begin to cover the key causes of climate change in a more balanced way- together tropical deforestation and fossil fuelled energy generation account for 40% of global carbon emissions- only then can we begin to take real and long lasting action.      

6. Notes

       Study Approach, Data Notes and Limitations 

The study recognises that the research was only carried out over a short period of time (18 Months) and that for a more robust set of results a longer analysis period would be deemed necessary. Articles for the study were retrieved by typing in Climate Change into each of the individual search engines on each newspapers website.  A total of 102 articles were analysed from the following newspapers:-      Daily Mail (19)The Sun (4)The Guardian (18)The Independent (11) The Sunday Times (5) The Times (10) News Wales (1) The Herald (1) New Scientist (1) Telegraph (12) Business Standard (1)Daily Express (7) Daily Mail (2)Reuters (5) Scotsman (1) Alysbury (1) Financial Times (1) Fair Home (1) Sci Dev (1). The data collection used a random sampling technique in which articles from the UK press, that covered the topic of climate change, were selected for analysis. There was no formalised system for data collection.  The original amount of articles totalled 111. However, due to certain errors during the data collection period, in total nine articles were omitted from the study.   E-mails were sent to each of the major broadsheet and tabloid environmental editors (we are still yet to hear back from them).  Every effort has to be made to ensure this report is accurate. In the event the data is either out of date or has been incorrectly recorded, then e-photoframes will be pleased to amend the report.  A full copy of the data is available on request from richard@e-photoframes.co.uk