Representation of Climate Change in Pakistani Social Media: A Content Analysis
Abstract
Pakistan, with agriculture contributing 18.9% to its economy, is significantly impacted by climate change. According to German Watch, Pakistan is the 7th most vulnerable country to climate change. This study examines how media shapes the discourse on environmental issues and the extent of coverage provided to these topics. A qualitative content analysis of three leading English newspapers was conducted, focusing on op-ed pages over a four-year period from 2021 to 2024. Despite media's role as a societal mirror, the content on these platforms is often dominated by media elites and powerful establishments. The findings reveal that while there is substantial coverage of climate change and related issues, different newspapers employ various frames such as global warming, pollution, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. However, the overall low coverage of environmental issues results in a public that is less sensitive to these critical topics. This insufficient coverage has significant implications for both individuals and society at large.
Copyright Notice Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture or academic thesis), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the Publisher. The Editors reserve the right to edit or otherwise alter all contributions, but authors will receive proofs for approval before publication. Copyrights for articles published in IJSSA journal are retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. The journal/publisher is not responsible for subsequent uses of the work. It is the author’s responsibility to bring an infringement action if so desired by the author.
