ISSN: 1550-7521
ISSN: 1550-7521
Dr. Sofia L. MartÃÂnez*
Department of Environmental Communication and Policy Studies, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Received: 02-Aug-2025; Manuscript No. gmj-25-177906; Editor assigned: 04-Aug- 2025; Pre QC No. gmj-25-177906; Reviewed: 18-Aug-2025; QC No. gmj-25-177906; Revised: 23-Aug-2025; Manuscript No. gmj-25-177906 (R); Published: 30-Aug-2025, DOI: 10.36648/1550-7521.23.76.504
Citation: MartÃÂnez SL (2025) Media and Climate Governance: Informing Action, Shaping Policy, and Mobilizing Public Engagement. Global Media Journal, 23:76.
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Climate change represents one of the most complex and urgent governance challenges of the twenty-first century. Addressing it requires coordinated action across local, national, and global levels, involving governments, international organizations, businesses, and citizens. In this context, media play a critical role in climate governance by shaping how climate issues are understood, debated, and prioritized. Through news reporting, digital platforms, and public discourse, media influence awareness, public opinion, and policy agendas related to climate change [1]. This article examines the relationship between media and climate governance, highlighting the mediaâ??s functions, impacts, and challenges in supporting effective and inclusive climate action.
Climate governance refers to the frameworks, institutions, policies, and processes through which societies respond to climate change. It encompasses international agreements, such as global climate negotiations, as well as national policies, local adaptation strategies, and non-state initiatives. Effective climate governance depends not only on scientific knowledge and political will, but also on public understanding and support.
Media serve as a bridge between complex climate science, policy-making processes, and everyday experiences. By translating technical information into accessible narratives, media help connect abstract climate goals with concrete social and environmental realities [2].
One of the most important roles of media in climate governance is agenda-setting. The amount of attention media devote to climate change influences how seriously the issue is perceived by the public and policymakers. When climate impacts such as extreme weather events, droughts, or floods receive sustained coverage, they can elevate climate change on political agendas and prompt policy responses.
Media also influence which aspects of climate governance receive attention. Coverage may focus on mitigation strategies, adaptation challenges, economic costs, or technological solutions, shaping public understanding of what climate action entails. In this way, media do not simply reflect policy debates; they actively shape them.
Beyond attention, the way climate change is framed has significant implications for governance. Media frames can present climate change as a scientific issue, an economic risk, a moral responsibility, or a political conflict. Each frame highlights certain actors, causes, and solutions while downplaying others.
For example, framing climate change as a global justice issue draws attention to unequal responsibilities and vulnerabilities between countries, influencing debates about climate finance and adaptation support. Conversely, frames that emphasize uncertainty or controversy can undermine trust in climate science and weaken public support for governance measures. Responsible framing is therefore essential for informed and constructive climate discourse [3].
Public engagement is a key component of effective climate governance, and media are central to fostering such engagement. News stories, documentaries, social media campaigns, and interactive platforms provide spaces for citizens to learn about climate issues and express their views. Media exposure can influence risk perception, shape attitudes toward climate policies, and motivate individual and collective action.
Digital media, in particular, have expanded opportunities for participation. Activists, scientists, and community groups use online platforms to share information, mobilize support, and hold decision-makers accountable. These forms of mediated participation can strengthen democratic aspects of climate governance, especially when they amplify voices that are otherwise marginalized.
Climate governance operates across scales, and media help connect global negotiations with local experiences. International climate summits often receive extensive media coverage, shaping public perceptions of global cooperation and conflict. At the same time, local media reporting on climate impacts and adaptation efforts makes global climate issues tangible and relevant to everyday life [4].
However, there are significant inequalities in climate media coverage. Perspectives from developing regions and vulnerable communities are often underrepresented in global media narratives. This imbalance can influence governance priorities by privileging certain interests and solutions over others. More inclusive media representation is crucial for equitable climate governance.
Despite their potential, media also present challenges for climate governance. Misinformation and misleading narratives can distort public understanding of climate science and policy. In some contexts, climate change has become politically polarized, with media outlets reinforcing ideological divisions rather than facilitating constructive debate.
Economic pressures on media organizations can also affect the quality of climate reporting. Limited resources, lack of specialized training, and dependence on sensational stories may lead to superficial or episodic coverage. These challenges undermine the mediaâ??s capacity to support informed decision-making and long-term governance strategies.
Quality journalism is essential for effective climate governance. Investigative reporting can expose gaps between climate commitments and actual policy implementation [5], enhancing accountability. Collaboration between journalists and scientific experts can improve accuracy and depth, helping audiences understand complex climate processes and policy trade-offs.
Specialized climate journalism and solutions-oriented reporting are increasingly important. By highlighting successful governance initiatives and practical responses, media can contribute to a sense of possibility and shared responsibility rather than despair or apathy.
Media are integral to climate governance, influencing how climate change is understood, debated, and addressed. Through agenda-setting, framing, and public engagement, media shape the conditions under which climate policies are developed and implemented. While digital communication has expanded participation and visibility, challenges such as misinformation, inequality, and polarization remain significant.
Strengthening the role of media in climate governance requires investment in quality journalism, media literacy, and inclusive communication practices. As climate change continues to reshape societies worldwide, responsible and informed media coverage will be essential for supporting collective action and building governance systems capable of meeting one of humanityâ??s greatest challenges.
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