- Media coverage of climate change has drastically decreased in recent years.
- Australia has seen the lowest climate media mentions since 2014, indicating a trend.
- Public support for renewable energy and climate policies has dramatically dropped.
- The shift in media narrative is impacting public engagement on climate issues.
- A renewed focus on climate urgency is necessary for effective action.
Declining Media Attention on Climate Change Issues
The Paris Climate Agreement, signed in December 2015 at COP21, was anticipated to be a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change, marking a decade of collective effort toward limiting global warming. However, recent data from the Media and Climate Change Observatory (MeCCO) reveals a worrying trend: global media coverage on climate change topics has plummeted sharply over the past three years. This decline is observed across major regions, including Europe, Asia, and North America, indicating a concerning uniformity in diminishing media engagement with climate issues, regardless of the local circumstances or governmental actions.
Australia’s Media Landscape and Climate Focus
According to the findings from MeCCO, June 2025 witnessed the lowest levels of climate change mentions in Australia since 2014. This suggests a significant drop in media focus on climate issues, echoing patterns seen globally but with a notably steeper decline in Australia compared to similar countries. Interestingly, a surge in climate coverage occurred during the May 2022 federal elections when climate policies were hotly debated, but a similar momentum failed to appear in the lead-up to the May 2025 elections, indicating a lapse in urgency and public interest regarding climate policies.
Public Perception and Its Consequences
As this media coverage wanes, a significant drop in public support for climate policies has also been observed, alongside a shift towards favoring fossil fuel extraction. This, as highlighted by social media conversations, raises alarms about the public’s engagement with climate solutions. The perspectives shared by activists point to a troubling trend where climate change is framed merely as an economic concern rather than an existential one. This approach risks sidelining crucial discussions on environmental sustainability amidst pressing societal issues, like rising costs and inflation.
In summary, the significant decline in climate change media coverage, especially in Australia, mirrors a broader trend that has serious implications for public engagement with climate policies. As the urgency of climate action resurfaces, it’s crucial for both media and citizens to reintegrate climate discussions into mainstream conversations, ensuring that decision-makers are reminded of the persistent, underlying threats posed by climate change. Without a concerted effort to reestablish climate change as a priority in public discourse, the trajectory toward a sustainable future remains at risk.
