ABSTRACT
Global climate change is currently being constructed as one of the biggest threats facing theworld. Although gradual warming and cooling of the Earth’s climate is a natural phenomenon, unprecedented temperature increases in recent years are causing widespread damage. The common consensus amongst climate change scientist’s states that continued production of greenhouse gas emissions at present levels is likely to have irreversible consequences (IPCC, 2007). For individuals who are not engaged in climate science research, access to climate change information is typically through media reportage and communication with people in their environments. As mass media communication is hypothesised to play a key role in the public understanding of risk (Wahlberg & Sjoberg, 2000), detailed analysis of this coverage is important.
