In 2015–12, at the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Paris, France, a legally binding international treaty, the Paris Agreement, was adopted. The goal set by this agreement is “to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.” The agreement was regarded as groundbreaking as the first treaty to be legally binding on all UN member states.
Today, about 10 years later, climate change remains 1 of the most serious issues affecting the world. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service announcement, 2024 was the first year in which the global average temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. While phenomena such as El Niño also played a role, the primary driver is considered to be human economic activity. In addition, the 10 years since 2015 are the top 10 warmest years since 1850.
Note that the target of the Paris Agreement is judged based on longer-term average temperatures, so this record does not immediately mean the target has been missed; however, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described the situation as “climate breakdown,” expressing a strong sense of crisis.
Given that climate change is an issue with worldwide impacts and the path to improvement remains unclear, how are Japanese news organizations covering it? GNV has been analyzing climate reporting in Japan over the long term and has pointed out its problems. In this article, we revisit that analysis and take another look at climate change and the degree of attention it receives.
A demonstration held in Melbourne, Australia in 2019 (Photo: John Englart / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0])
目次
Problems caused by climate change
First, let’s reconsider what kind of problem climate change is. It is, of course, far more than merely a change in living environments.
Climate change stems from the fact that, due to human activity, the Earth’s average temperature has already risen by about 1°C (as of now) since the Industrial Revolution. This has led to heatwaves, extreme weather, sea-level rise, and frequent wildfires, threatening many people’s lives. In extreme heat, living without air conditioning becomes difficult, and health problems such as heatstroke and related illnesses increase.
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Furthermore, more frequent floods and droughts caused by extreme rainfall and lack of rain destabilize food supplies and worsen hunger. If sea-level rise inundates coastal and low-lying areas, countless people will be displaced.
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Due to sea-level rise, desertification, and extreme weather caused by climate change, it is expected that by 2050 there will be as many as 150–200 million climate refugees. A UN report has also been published warning that as climate apartheid progresses, 120 million people could fall into poverty by 2030.
“A new ‘apartheid’ created by climate change” 2019–09–19
A street in Mozambique after a massive cyclone struck in 2019 (Climate Centre / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])
Water shortages caused by climate change can also be a cause of conflict.
The causes of water stress are not limited to population growth and economic activity; climate change is also deeply involved. With rising temperatures, decreasing precipitation, and worsening desertification, the world has been witnessing droughts called the worst on record. It is predicted that dry regions will become drier and humid regions will see more precipitation. Of the 17 countries classified by the WRI [World Resources Institute] as having extremely high water stress, 12 are in the Middle East and North Africa. While about 7.5% of the world’s population lives in this region, it has only 1.4% of the world’s freshwater. In this area, where armed conflicts are concentrated, water shortages are said to be a source of confrontation and friction.
“The world’s water conflicts: The untold facts” 2020–11–26
The economic impacts of climate change are also severe.
Climate change is already having serious effects on human society and the natural environment, and actions taken over the next ten years will greatly influence the scale of future damage. The economic impacts of climate change vary greatly by region and are particularly pronounced in areas dependent on agriculture and tourism or in countries with vulnerable infrastructure. In these regions, reduced harvests and declines in tourism revenue due to rising temperatures and extreme weather are serious problems.
“Climate change deals a severe blow to the economy” 2025–03–18
There is also an estimate that abnormal weather in 2024 severely affected school education for 2.4 hundred million people. These extreme events are believed to be influenced by climate change, and the issue is already having serious impacts across every domain on Earth.
Long-term analysis of climate coverage
GNV has analyzed articles mentioning climate change in the three major newspapers (Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun) since 1985. Specifically, we compiled graphs of domestic and international articles that referred to climate change, global warming, or COP. The data reveal several trends in the volume of reporting on climate change.
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Let’s first look at the increases and decreases in coverage volume. One clear trigger for surges in coverage is international conferences on climate change.
The first major peak was in 1997. That year, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the third Conference of the Parties (COP3) to the UNFCCC. The Kyoto Protocol set a target of “reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 5% between 2008 and 2012 compared with 1990,” with specific numerical reduction obligations imposed on high-income countries. The reason for the sharp increase in coverage compared to previous years is thought to be that COP3 was held in Japan.
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Coverage then fluctuated, but from 2007 to 2009 it increased dramatically. This is thought to be due to intensified political discussions during that period over whether to extend the Kyoto Protocol or, if not extended, what framework would replace it.
“Climate change threatening humanity: What should reporting look like?” 2021–04–22
As for the increase in coverage in 2021, factors beyond international conferences were also involved.
In 2020, coverage dipped somewhat as attention focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, but by 2021 it surged to a level comparable to 1997. In addition to COP26 being postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the pandemic and thus being held for the first time in two years, the inauguration of President Joe Biden in the United States that year likely had a significant impact.
“The threat of climate change: What does post-COVID coverage look like?” 2023–09–28
On the other hand, even important international conferences do not necessarily increase coverage.
The Paris Agreement attracted significant global attention as the international accord that replaced the Kyoto Protocol. However, compared with the two major peaks—1997, when the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, and 2008, when its target period began—the absolute amount of coverage was smaller, reflecting the relatively low attention paid to the Paris Agreement in Japanese reporting.
“Climate change threatening humanity: What should reporting look like?” 2021–04–22
Attention to climate change can also increase outside of international conferences. For example, when large-scale natural disasters occur in high-income countries, the issue may draw attention in relation to political developments in those countries.
A rally addressing climate change held in Germany (Photo: Stefan Müller / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 2.0])
In July 2021, major floods, to which climate-change-driven extreme weather contributed, struck primarily Western Europe, and 220 people died in Germany. Triggered by this flood, interest in climate change surged across Europe, including Germany, and climate activists held rallies calling on political parties to take sufficient action ahead of the German federal elections.
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Japanese climate change coverage tends to increase when interest in environmental issues rises in Europe and the US, suggesting a strong influence from those regions.
“The threat of climate change: What does post-COVID coverage look like?” 2023–09–28
Here, we should also consider factors that suppress growth in coverage volume. Despite the steady worsening of climate change described above, coverage has not necessarily increased. In particular, since 2022 it has remained at a low level.
Coverage of the Russia–Ukraine war since 2022 and the Israel–Palestine war since 2023 has soared, and in 2024 the US presidential election also occupied much of the media’s attention. Perhaps also due to a lack of ambitious decisions on the international stage, the number of articles mentioning climate change has stagnated. Questions remain as to why coverage has remained low even after surpassing the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal—lower than 1997’s coverage and decreased compared to 2021.
“The reality of exceeding 1.5°C: Global climate change issues, measures, and Japanese reporting” 2025–02–13
Thus, Japanese international coverage of climate change often draws attention in the context of international conferences and politics. However, even with such triggers, it does not necessarily receive major attention. There is also a tendency for attention to shift to more straightforward events like conflicts when they occur, making climate issues relatively less covered.
Content of climate coverage
Next, we take a closer look at the actual content of climate reporting. There is a problem with the reporting stance of focusing on international conferences. A study by GNV covering the three years from 2018 to 2020 revealed the following:
Among all international climate reports, the content included 55.9 articles about conferences, 52.1 about measures, 27.2 about impacts, and 21.4 about activism. The large number of articles about international conferences is a notable characteristic. Most of those concerned COP, and many mentioned climate change countermeasures. There were many articles about overall global measures and numerical targets, while few focused on specific measures in individual countries. As for activism, many articles focused on demonstrations influenced by Greta Thunberg; rather than reporting on demonstrations or other organized mass movements, many articles focused on Thunberg as an individual.
“From which perspectives is climate change reported?” 2021–11–4
Greta addressing the European Parliament in 2019 (Photo: European Parliament / Flickr [CC BY 2.0])
In this way, climate coverage often focuses more on conferences or prominent figures at those conferences than on the issue of climate change itself and its real-world harms. There is the following view on this point:
Given that the scale of climate change itself is huge and difficult to grasp as a discrete “event,” and that it is an ongoing process that is hard to handle as news, it is understandable that reporting would focus on governments and individuals. Even so, reporting on the problems and impacts of climate change is extremely limited.
“Climate change threatening humanity: What should reporting look like?” 2021–04–22
Moreover, when the contents of international conferences are covered, there are noted biases in perspective.
Japanese coverage of climate change is centered primarily on the Japanese perspective. There is also a large imbalance in the volume of reporting on international frameworks and events, and there is not much mention of specific decisions. In coverage of financial targets, there is a tendency to emphasize “support” and “investment” rather than “compensation” for low-income countries. Regarding COP, while the words “problems” and “failures” are mentioned, there is little concrete and detailed discussion, or such discussion may be expressed indirectly. Overall, climate coverage focuses on organizational actors such as governments and corporations, while damages to citizens and the role of citizens are not covered much.
“The reality of exceeding 1.5°C: Global climate change issues, measures, and Japanese reporting” 2025–02–13
While attention to international conferences is important, and reporting on activists’ statements and actions is meaningful, these are only one angle on the broader problem. The essence lies in the harms caused by climate change, the actions of corporations and consumers that generate the causes of climate change, and the concrete measures that should be taken.
Geographic focus of climate coverage
There is also a clear regional bias in reporting on climate change. High-income regions such as North America and Europe tend to receive more focus, while coverage of low-income countries is limited. Analyses from 2019 to 2020 also show this.
(Prior content omitted) Even among the countries that are covered, most are high-income. Specifically, the US appeared in 15 articles, Spain in 9, and the UK in 7. Meanwhile, there is almost no reporting on low-income countries that have suffered major impacts from climate change.
“Climate change threatening humanity: What should reporting look like?” 2021–04–22
This same result appeared in Mainichi Shimbun’s coverage for 2018–2020. This tendency is not limited to climate change but characterizes international reporting more broadly.
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In both climate coverage and international reporting overall, one reason for the lack of reporting on low-income countries is that their coverage priority is low to begin with. Because of this low priority, the number of foreign bureaus that outlets maintain in low-income countries is small, further reducing opportunities to report. As a result, coverage concentrates on high-income countries.
“From which perspectives is climate change reported?” 2021–11–4
What is the problem with such coverage? One aspect is climate apartheid, a term that refers to a form of separation and widening inequality between the wealthy and the poor caused by climate change.
Half of global greenhouse gas emissions have been emitted by the richest 10% of the world’s people, while the poorest segment (3.5 billion people) is responsible for less than 10%. Ironically, however, the latter poor bear 75% of the harms caused by climate change. In other words, those who caused climate change survive and prosper, while those with no responsibility suffer.
“A new ‘apartheid’ created by climate change” 2019–09–19
Coverage that does not focus on low-income countries not only leads to an underestimation of climate change but also exacerbates inequality, ultimately pushing more people into hardship.
Climate change and disaster reporting
Next, let us consider disasters, which are closely related to climate change. A previous GNV analysis of Yomiuri Shimbun’s international reporting in 2023 revealed that earthquakes and fires made up the majority of disaster coverage.
Data show that in Yomiuri Shimbun’s international reporting in 2023, disaster coverage consisted mostly of earthquakes and fires, with only a few percent devoted to anything else. Floods and storms (hydro-meteorological disasters) and droughts, despite their large numbers of affected people and casualties, were barely covered.
As noted in a past GNV article, one reason is that earthquakes are “familiar” in Japan. About 20% of earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater occur in Japan, which is even called an “earthquake-prone country.” Because earthquakes are of high domestic concern, their coverage volume in international reporting tends to be large.
“How are floods around the world being reported?” 2024–10–17
As for fires, about 85% of coverage concerned the wildfire that occurred in Hawaii in 8 of that year, making it a trend specific to that year. Thus, in Japan’s international reporting on disasters, there is a bias in the types of disasters covered. Looking at the numbers of affected people, while earthquakes did have the highest number of deaths in 2023, floods ranked 1st and droughts 2nd in terms of population affected, showing a large gap from the scale of coverage. GNV makes the following point about reporting on floods:
Climate change is increasing precipitation and causing more severe floods. While media focus intensely on COP in covering climate change, it is increasingly necessary to report from the perspective of what disasters are actually occurring in the world, how many people are affected, and why such disasters have become more frequent.
“How are floods around the world being reported?” 2024–10–17
Regarding droughts, East Africa experienced a severe drought in 2022 said to be the worst in 40 years. However, only 11.5% of articles mentioned this disaster in the context of climate change.
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The most frequent main theme among articles that touched on this issue was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a total of 13.5 articles (※4). Even counting only articles whose main theme included either Russia or Ukraine, the number is large; when including cases where the war was mentioned within articles about other topics, it increased further—among articles that referred to Africa’s crisis, 75% also discussed this conflict.
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There were a total of 6 articles (※4) in which the drought was mentioned within articles about climate change.
“The world’s worst drought in East Africa that went unreported” 2022–11–17
Furthermore, fires are linked to climate change in both cause and effect. Abnormal dryness and rising temperatures can trigger forest fires, and the greenhouse gases released by fires can accelerate climate change. However, it has been pointed out that coverage is limited.
The numbers first show that Yomiuri Shimbun’s 2019 coverage of fires in six regions was extremely small. There were 14 articles on Brazil; attention to the fires in Australia rose mainly on social media and the internet in 2020, increasing the total to 14 articles by January 22, 2020. But there were only 3 articles on Indonesia’s fires, 2 on California’s, and none on fires in Central Africa or the Arctic.
“The world is burning: Is coverage accurate?” 2020–02–6
Moreover, this analysis also examined the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire that occurred in 2019. Although far smaller in scale, it received 79 articles—about 5.6 times more than Brazil’s fires. This shows that the importance assigned in reporting is being judged on grounds other than scale and damage.
Toward reporting that squarely faces climate change
Coverage of climate change exhibits biases in volume, content, and geography, and mentions within disaster reporting are limited. Climate change is indeed a long-term issue of vast scale and difficult to grasp as a single event—an inherent characteristic. The difficulty of scientifically attributing specific extreme weather events to climate change has also been pointed out.
However, without appropriate reporting on this issue, what awaits us is a reality that should indeed be called “climate breakdown.” A reporting stance seen as effective for averting this worst-case scenario has been proposed: solutions journalism. This approach goes beyond critically highlighting problems to presenting solutions and enabling people to take better actions. While conveying the crisis is important, an approach that evaluates and reports on measures, solutions, and improvements—grounded in evidence—is considered highly effective in addressing climate change.
Climate change is growing more serious by the day, and stronger responses are increasingly required. Each member of society—governments, corporations, NGOs, and individuals—must confront this shared, major challenge. With limited time to respond to the looming threat, actions are needed from all social actors. The media can help spur those actions. If they communicate the details of evidence-based measures and evaluate them, it could lead to concrete behavioral changes across society. The media will be increasingly expected to adopt solutions journalism—presenting specific measures and their effects, along with evidence, to audiences.
“Climate change and solutions journalism” 2020–04–23
Young people rising up against climate change. Ahead of the Climate Action Summit, 4 million people were mobilized worldwide. (Photo: Tommi Boom / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0] )
We hope Japanese media will reexamine the essence of climate change, correct biases across various aspects, and provide better information for the future.
Writer: Seita Morimoto
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