Framing Climate Change: A MCDA of UK News Articles Related to the March

2023 IPCC Climate Report

ML3LP
Student Number: 27010678
 Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations.............................................................................................................................3
Chapter 1 – Introduction.......................................................................................................................4
Chapter 2 – Literature Review..............................................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Climate Change...........................................................................................................................6
2.3 The IPCC......................................................................................................................................7
2.4 Framing in News Media..............................................................................................................8
Chapter 3- Methodology.......................................................................................................................9
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................9
3.2 Sources........................................................................................................................................9
3.3 Analytical Framework.................................................................................................................9
Chapter 4- Analysis and Discussion....................................................................................................11
4.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................11
4.2 Power Relations........................................................................................................................11
4.2.1 Politics as Power.................................................................................................................11
4.2.2 Science as Power.................................................................................................................12
4.2.3 Time as Power.....................................................................................................................12
4.2.4 Fear as Power.....................................................................................................................13
Conclusions.........................................................................................................................................15
References..........................................................................................................................................16
Primary Sources..............................................................................................................................16
Secondary Sources..........................................................................................................................16
Appendix.............................................................................................................................................18
A- BBC News Article.........................................................................................................................18
B- The Guardian Article....................................................................................................................21
C- ITV News Article..........................................................................................................................22
 List of Abbreviations

MCDA – Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis

CDA – Critical Discourse Analysis
AA- Article A
I1- Image 1
 Chapter 1 – Introduction

Climate Change is undoubtedly the most prominent topic of the 21st century due to the

increasing rate at which the planet is warming and the ever-growing effects that we can see

happening on a regular basis. Over the last decade alone, floods, droughts and heat waves

have been occurring more frequently as a result of high levels of greenhouse gases in our

atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and manufacturing (GOV.UK,

2019). Unless we take urgent action, we will continue damaging the natural environment and

our lives, consequently putting the future of our world at risk. This is essentially the message

of the most recent report formed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

which informs the United Nations (UN) on the state of the climate. The Synthesis Report

(SYR) is the last in a collection of reports formulated in March 2023 by a 39-piece core

writing team of scientists and review editors from all over the globe (IPCC, n.d.). Their

accumulated research provided in this 36-page “summary for policymakers”, focuses on the

key causes, impacts and solutions and it warns that we need to act fast if we are to limit the

warming temperature to 1.5C (IPCC, n.d.).

Although the principal users of this report are governments and policymakers, the

number of alternative bodies interested in this information has increased rapidly including the

public and civil society (Lynn and Peeva, 2021, p.18). In fact, a consensus shows that in just

one month during the 2021 launch of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, concern for

Climate Change rose by “sixteen percentage points” making it the largest public concern,

second only to the Covid-19 pandemic (Ipsos, 2021). Due to the public engagement

surrounding climate discussions, I have chosen to analyse three official British news reports

printed on this topic by BBC News, ITV News and The Guardian. The articles are based on

the press release (henceforth PR) supplied by the IPCC (following the publication of the

SYR). The current study aims to assess how power is framed within media discourses related
to Climate Change, in order to provoke ideas and thoughts in the reader whilst remaining

neutral to an argument. The subsequent chapter discusses the topic of Climate Change and

how it is framed in UK newspapers as well as the framing policies of the IPCC. Following

this, the methodology of the current investigation is described in chapter 3. The final chapters

will then analyse and discuss the investigation in order to conclude with an understanding of

how power is used to present a persuasive and informative discourse on the need for Climate

Change action.
 Chapter 2 – Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

News reports such as those published by the BBC have a duty to remain impartial and

provide informative content to the wider society, yet articles on complex topics like Climate

Change (which are scientifically backed), can frame them in such a way that provokes certain

ideas. In this chapter we will discuss the contextual background of the topic of Climate

Change and how it is framed in the media, we will then look briefly at the IPCC’s role in

sharing their research, specifically through a PR.

2.2 Climate Change

Unlike what we know today, Climate Change has not always been portrayed in such a

negative manner. In fact, in the early 20th century, scientists viewed global warming as a

phenomenon that could secure better climates and greater agricultural production (Hulme,

2008). Although nowadays it is such a widespread issue, Climate Change can be complex to

understand when it’s effects and causes are “unobtrusive” and “difficult to perceive”,

meaning that “for most lay audiences”, the effects of global warming are not obvious (Hase et

al, 2021, p.1). The attitudes towards Climate Change compatible with those of the modern

day were solidified in the 1980s and Mike Hulme and other scholars argue that each new

wave of climate concern is directly linked to scientific research, political movements, or

meteorological events (Hulme, 2008, p.11; Saunders et al, 2018). With this view in mind, we

can understand the importance of sharing scientific discoveries and research. In an era where

the thoughts surrounding Climate Change are based on ideas of fear and vulnerability or

“danger and catastrophe”, as Hulme discovered, it is vital that research is made available to

the public who can help make changes that will benefit theirs and the world’s future (2008,

p.6). This is a topic which the public are mostly educated on through news coverage; it can
therefore be argued that the news has great influence on public concern and knowledge on the

matter (Hase et al, 2021, p.1). When we consider this alongside the complexity of climate

change, the role of the media becomes vital in relating events such as extreme weather or

species extinction to anthropogenic climate change in order to draw attention to what would

otherwise be published as another weather event (for example) that is unconnected to human

action (Saunders et al, 2018, p.1).

2.3 The IPCC

In today’s world, topics such as climate and the environment are very high priority for

international governments which is why organisations such as the IPCC are incredibly

fundamental in bridging the gap between science and politics (Bhandari, 2022). The IPCC

fulfils this role by gathering evidence from “hundreds of scientists” within the UN to produce

reports with their findings to 195 participating member governments (Bhandari, 2022, p.3;

Lynn and Peeva, 2021, p.17). The production of such reports is a rigorous process in which

scientists work together with the “ultimate users” to create a neutral report which should not

“campaign or advocate”, but inform and guide (Lynn and Peeva, 2021, p.17). It was only

recently, after 2007, that the organisation began to write their own press releases due to the

scrutiny they could have faced had they presented some information over others “in a media

document that aims to summarise a report” (Lynn and Peeva, 2021, p.18). However, they

understood the importance of growing their communication channels as well as the influence

that the general public can have on policy makers through bottom-up social engineering,

hence the importance of the press release. In order to keep that neutrality and not advocate

for change, they needed to present their information with a carefully considered structure and

language.
2.4 Framing in News Media

Already we can see the existence of power relations within the climate domain as

science, politics and the media all influence each other. It can be understood that whilst the

IPCC works between science and politics, the media bridges the gap between science (the

IPCC) and society, informing communities of the environmental issues that are surrounding

them. We have also already learnt that scientific reports such as those of the IPCC have to

take a neutral tone which does not advocate a particular belief or set of politics. Unlike

tabloid news, news channels such as the BBC have to do the same in providing an impartial

view which informs and “[engages] the world around them” (Stanyer, 2021, p.59). However,

the frames they choose to present can still vary in focus, especially when press releases cover

both the causes and impacts as well as the solutions, in detail. News media has a choice over

what they emphasise or downplay within an article; this is the process of framing by which

one aspect is selected and made more salient through news communication (Stecula and

Merkley, 2019, p.2). If we take Chong and Druckman’s definition of framing to be a “process

by which people develop a particular conceptualization… or reorient their thinking about an

issue”, we can understand why the news media is so powerful as this is the channel of

communication relied upon by society to receive the facts on salient issues (2007, cited in

Stecula and Merkley, 2019, p.2). It is worth mentioning that the development level of a

country can impact what frame is presented (Hase et al., 2021). For example, industrialised

countries such as the UK are more likely to “report on climate science” than underdeveloped

countries which are more concerned with the human effect (Hase et al., 2021, p.9). This can

be seen to be true in the articles we analyse in this investigation which are provided by

British news media.

 Chapter 3- Methodology

3.1 Introduction

In this chapter, we will explain the selection criteria and the data sources before we go

on to explore how the analysis will study the sources to help us understand the power

relations in media discourses surrounding climate change.

3.2 Sources

The data for this investigation was gathered within a specific time frame which

correlates with the release of the SYR as the final part of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment
Report on the 20th March 2023. On this same day, the IPCC made available a press release

which many news channels took advantage of, publishing news reports on that same day and

indeed following this too. For the purpose of this investigation, I have taken official British

news publications from the day that the PR was published in order to keep a coherent set of

data. The publications were taken from BBC News, ITV News and The Guardian, three

popular British news sites which released articles on the 20th of March. It could be argued that

these organisations feel a certain responsibility to share this type of news immediately or that

they feel strongly about the topic of climate change. Alternatively, this could be taken as an

expression of power, they want to dominate the field of discourse within news media which is

not uncommon for journalists to do in order to be the first to cover a story. BBC News, ITV

News and The Guardian can all be deemed as News Press which are not tabloids therefore,

they have the responsibility of providing “impartial news and information” (Stanyer, 2021,

p.59).

3.3 Analytical Framework

I have selected MCDA to analyse the power relations between the news articles and

the PR. Where CDA assumes that discourse transmits power and is predominantly focused on

the language, MCDA takes other semiotic modes into consideration in order to assess how

they “play a part in the communication of power relations” (Machin and Mayr, 2012, p10).

As Johnson and Milani have found, contemporary texts are becoming increasingly visual due

to the availability of technology, therefore the layout and design of information has found

more salience (2009, p.11).

I will be employing Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional framework, an analytical CDA

framework which covers textual analysis, discourse practice and social practice, in order to

analyse the complex meanings of language within texts (2013a). I will further this by
analysing the multimodal dimensions according to Kress and Van Leeuwen’s MCDA

framework which investigates the representational, interactive, and compositional meanings

(2006). If we consider Fairclough’s view that “power is partly discourse and discourse is

partly power”, we can identify the power relations by also considering the discourse that each

source presents (2013a, p.4). This multimodal analysis will then be used to identify the power

relations and discourses presented in the news articles.

Chapter 4- Analysis and Discussion

4.1 Introduction

In the following chapter, we will discuss the power relations found in the news

articles and how they were formed through multimodal and lexical features. The aim of this

chapter is to analyse the different levels of power that occur throughout climate discourses

and how these levels interact with one another.

4.2 Power Relations

4.2.1 Politics as Power

Firstly, lexico-grammatical features highlight the existence of political power within

the articles. ITV and BBC both employ politics in their titles to exploit the role that politics

holds in society. They state it is a “UN climate report” and “New UN report” which is an

extension of the truth as one can argue this is an IPCC report which has been created for the
UN. However, journalists know that society are more familiar with the UN initialism than

IPCC so here politics dominates the discourse over science. The larger font of the title and its

role in framing the most salient information, subconsciously allows the reader to approach the

main body of text in a certain manner and solidifies the role of the UN/politics throughout the

rest of the report. Interestingly, visual literacy is less focused around a political discourse

although there is one example in The Guardian (AB:I4) which is a video still of the UN chief.

The frame presents him as a powerful man, due to the UN embossed lectern and his formal

attire and he is backed by political (and scientific) status as both the IPCC logo and UN logo

are central to the viewer’s gaze.

The repetitive mentioning of politically powerful people across all articles, most

notably UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, is significant in acknowledging a hierarchy

by consistently giving his name and position to reinforce his role in the reader’s mind.

Additionally, Guterres is positioned above the role of governments due to the use of active

phrases and verb choices that follow his name such as “warned delegates” or “called on

governments”, thereby forming internal levels of political power.

4.2.2 Science as Power

In addition to politics, science is used to capture the reader such as in The Guardian’s

title, “Scientists deliver…”, and in the subtitle, “IPCC report says…”. The report is framing

science as the subject and the organisation to which the reader should consider the

powerholder. The scientists are framed as the “experts”, and we are reminded of their

position as the “world’s top scientists” which shapes communication by validating their

report and thus their influence. The use of a war metaphor by The Guardian, underscores the

severity of the situation to the reader by describing the SYR as a “clarion call” which requires

“action on all fronts”. The social practice of this metaphor is drawing on historical contexts
which allows the reader to interpret a topic which perhaps is very complex, in a manner that

they can understand more easily such as war.

Moreover, the news organisations employ the use of visual scientific modes to

strengthen their articles. Most commonly, they include infographics that present global

warming changes over time (from the past to present) as well as future predictions based on

current trends. A colour gradient is regularly used where darker, more intense shades

represent more alarming figures (AA:I2; AA:I3). Colours on the red spectrum are used for

warming temperatures (AA:I2/I3; AB: I2) due to it being associated with ideas of danger and

warning signals, whereas blues are used for cooler climates (AB:I2). As we have said

previously, Climate Change can be a complex topic therefore by supporting the text with

visual scientific modes, the reader has more opportunity to fully grasp the information.

4.2.3 Time as Power

The next representation of power is emulated through the discourse of time. Language

such as “rapidly”, “as soon as possible” and “fast-track” dominate the discourse throughout

each article and work in conjunction with regularly mentioned figures, for instance “30 years

of warnings” and “six months on”. This repetitive pattern is fundamental to tap into the mind

of the reader and ensure the message of the IPCC, that time is running out, is received.

Conceptual metaphors such as “rapidly closing window of opportunity” bring everyday

language into a science-heavy topic to create awareness and understanding. ITV use this

metaphor, “the climate change bomb is ticking” which brings more ideas of war to the

discourse which again creates a sense of urgency and also panic amongst the readership.

They go further in addressing the need to “defuse the climate timebomb” and as bombs are

associated with mass destruction within social practice, the idea of a “timebomb” allocates a

great sense of power to the framing of time.

 This idea is furthered in The Guardian’s subtitle which states that “swift and drastic

action can avert irrevocable damage”. The adjective swift creates the idea of the “action”

happening quickly and immediately and when placed with the modal verb “can”, a positive

correlation is formed in relation to changing the climate. Essentially, the article argues that

time is very powerful because if we allow ourselves too much, we may not “avert” the

“damage”.

4.2.4 Fear as Power

Lexico-grammatical features that create a discourse of fear within these articles, are often

emulated alongside the previous discourses we have found. For example, time, fear and

science work together from a lexical point of view such as in The Guardian’s title which

includes “act now or it’s too late”. The use of imperative with “act” creates no doubt and

serves as an agent of fear by commanding the reader to do something immediately. This is

part of a false dichotomy as we are presented with what appears to be a time ultimatum,

therefore inciting more panic because we are being told there are no other possibilities.

Science is included because this fallacy is preceded by “Scientists deliver ‘final warning’ on

climate crisis:”, therefore one could argue that here the power is held by science which has

induced this fear. This method of title framing appears to be a pattern amongst these articles

in which the subject is stated and then, following a colon, an argument is established (or vice

versa). This structure itself creates fear as it is not a naturally flowing sentence; the colon

break acts as a natural pause which builds up tension and anticipation in the title before you

are provided with more information.

To end, fear is induced by means of visual modes and the placement of such images

within the article. A still from a tv report is placed just under the title in the ITV article which

depicts a large flood in Pakistan (AC:I1). The placement of such a striking image, with its
significant contrast in colours between the water and the clothing, is important as it forces the

reader to see, but not necessarily understand yet, the correlation between the title and the

image’s events. Similarly, the BBC use an environmental image (AA:I1) in which the gaze is

drawn to the melted glacier and the contrast between the dark rocks and the bright ice. Here

fear is created as the framing of the scene allows the reader to recognise that this is not how

the landscape should appear.

 Chapter 5- Conclusions

5.1 Conclusion

A multimodal analysis of the framing of power within three climate change articles

indicates that there are multiple threads of power that coexist, however it can be argued that

science is positioned as the most powerful frame. Due to the context of the IPCC’s SYR

release on the same day, it is unsurprising that science remains the prominent discourse

amongst these articles. Having said this, the discourse of science is heightened thanks to the

other existing power frames of time, politics, and fear which allow science to be presented as

the highest power. It can be argued that although time and fear are brought about by the

scientific lexico-grammatical structures and other semiotic modes, without their prominence

throughout the articles, science would not be deemed as important. The same can be said for

politics which, in this case, falls under the jurisdiction of science due to the UN being a

receiver of the IPCC’s SYR.

5.2 Further Study

As Hulme and Saunders have found, the rise in media discourses on Climate Change

increase simultaneously around political, meteorological, and scientific research. We have

already noted that this is true for this study which is linked to new scientific research and

additionally we have found that science is a predominant frame within these reports (Hulme,

2008, p.11; Saunders et al, 2018). It leaves room to investigate whether this correlation of

cause and framing is a common conclusion amongst climate discourses.

Word Count: 3289

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Appendix
A- BBC News Article

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B- The Guardian Article

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C- ITV News Article

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