UK tabloid newspapers have consistently misreported human contributions to climate change and are guilty of undermining pressure on governments and businesses to take action on climate change, according to a new report from Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute.
The study assessed the tone, framing techniques, terminology and labelling in nearly 1,000 articles on climate change from the Daily Mail, The Sun, the Express and the Mirror between 2000 and 2006 and found that around a quarter "misrepresented wide scientific agreement that man-made GHG emissions have 'very likely' had a role to play in global warming" .
Speaking to BusinessGreen.com, report author Dr Max Boykoff said that the "deliberate contrarian" tone adopted by much tabloid reporting on climate change was hampering action on the issue. "It is one factor among many, but the high circulation of these papers means they have to have an effect in lessening public pressure [on political and business leaders] for action," he said.
He added that businesses seeking to promote green products should be aware of the scepticism on climate change being pushed by some tabloids when developing marketing campaigns and advised that firms running green print adverts would be wise to consider how they will be framed in some tabloid papers.
"Firms need to think carefully about green messaging and which sources they use to run green adverts," he said.
But critics claim government must step up financial support for offshore wind projects if it is to avoid further delays 02 May 2008
US Environmental Protection Agency accused of placing political pressure on scientists to water down green legislation 24 Apr 2008
Report warns "miserable" government climate change campaigns only serve to alienate target audience 26 Jun 2008Influential report claims price on carbon emissions of up to $80 per tonne should bring global warming under control 19 Nov 2007
Environmentalists slam Sarah Palin's view that global warming is not man made, and warn McCain is now backing away from green issues 09 Sep 2008
China-based Suntech Holdings thinks demand will still exceed supply 10 Oct 2008
Orders for its wind turbines were up 50 per cent year on year, the company claims 10 Oct 2008
The company's Tower Tube design has been updated with wind energy technology 10 Oct 2008
More news
The entire US financial system may be on the ropes, but according to Richard Seireeni, the recently formed "Salmon Nation" financial network is doing just fine 09 Oct 2008
BusinessGreen.com casts its eye over the simplest means of harnessing some geothermal power 08 Oct 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
