Framing climate change in Bangladeshi media: narratives, marginalized voices, and implications for inclusive journalism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22058336Keywords:
climate change, Environmental communication, Media framing, Environmental sociology, Climate governanceAbstract
This study investigates how climate change is framed in Bangladeshi media and examines the implications of these narratives for environmental governance and sustainability. Using qualitative content analysis, 150 news articles published between 2021 and 2025 across major English and Bangla newspapers were analyzed. The findings reveal a predominance of economic framing, focusing on financial losses, climate finance, and agricultural impacts, while environmental processes and the experiences of vulnerable communities remain comparatively underrepresented. This imbalance limits the capacity of media discourse to communicate the systemic and ecological dimensions of climate change. By situating framing practices within the socio-environmental context of a highly climate-vulnerable country, the study contributes to environmental sociology and climate communication scholarship, extending framing theory to the Global South. The findings highlight the need for more integrative and inclusive environmental communication that connects scientific evidence, local knowledge, and policy processes. Strengthening such communication is essential for supporting informed decision-making, participatory governance, and effective climate adaptation strategies in Bangladesh and similar developing contexts.
References
Ahmed, S. (2019). Media representation of climate change in Bangladesh: A critical analysis. University Press Limited.
Alam, K., Shamsuddoha, M., & Tanner, T. (2021). Climate change adaptation in Bangladesh: Policies, practices, and challenges. Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.
Boykoff, M. T. (2011). Who speaks for the climate? Making sense of media reporting on climate change. Cambridge University Press.
Boykoff, M. T., & Boykoff, J. M. (2007). Climate change and journalistic norms: A case study of US mass-media coverage. Geoforum, 38(6), 1190–1204.
Couldry, N., & Hepp, A. (2017). The mediated construction of reality. Polity Press.
Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51–58
Feldman, L., & Hart, P. S. (2018). Is there any hope? How climate change news imagery and text influence audience emotions and support for climate mitigation policies. Risk Analysis, 38(3), 585–602.
Fereday, J., & Muir-Cochrane, E. (2006). Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(1), 80–92.
Haque, M. (2018). Climate change and media in Bangladesh: Challenges and opportunities. Bangladesh Institute of Media Studies.
Hossain, M. S., Rahman, M. F., & Islam, M. T. (2020). Media representation of climate change in the Sundarbans: A case study. Journal of Environmental Studies.
Islam, M. (2020). Climate change reporting in Bangladeshi media: Trends and challenges. Journal of Environmental Studies.
Landis, J. R., & Koch, G. G. (1977). The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics, 33(1), 159–174.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.
McIntyre, K., & Gyldensted, C. (2018). Constructive journalism: An introduction and practical guide for applying positive psychology techniques to news production. Routledge.
Moser, S. C. (2016). Reflections on climate change communication research and practice in the second decade of the 21st century. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 7(3), 345–369.
Nisbet, M. C. (2009). Communicating climate change: Why frames matter for public engagement. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 51(2), 12–23.
Schäfer, M. S., & Painter, J. (2021). Climate journalism in a changing media ecosystem: Assessing the production of climate change news worldwide. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 12(1), e675.
Schreier, M. (2012). Qualitative content analysis in practice. Sage.
Shahid, S. (2022). Digital media and climate communication in Bangladesh: Opportunities and challenges. Media Watch.
Shanahan, M., McComas, K., & Stibe, A. (2018). Communicating climate change: A guide for researchers. Cambridge University Press.
Thier, K., Abdenour, J., Walth, B., & Dahmen, N. (2021). A narrative of solutions: Examining the effects of solutions journalism on audience engagement. Journalism Practice, 15(8), 1001–1020.
van der Linden, S., Leiserowitz, A., Rosenthal, S., & Maibach, E. (2020). Inoculating the public against misinformation about climate change. Global Challenges, 4(2), 1900108
Waisbord, S. (2020). Communication: A post-discipline. Polity Press.
Westlund, O., & Ekström, M. (2018). News and participation: A review of participatory journalism research. Journalism Studies, 19(5), 654–673.
Newspaper Articles Analyzed:
The Daily Star. (2025, May 20). "Early Erosion by Teesta, Dharla Threatens Thousands in Rangpur Region."
Dhaka Tribune. (2025, February 18). "Experts Advocate for Climate-Smart Practices to Mitigate Methane Emissions."
The Financial Express. (2025, May 10). "Climate Hits Homes, but Not Books." [Funded by ICFJ grant]
Prothom Alo. (2025, March 20). "Climate Migrants, Victims of Slavery." [Based on IIED research]
The Daily Star. (2024, October 26). "Climate Finance Will Go in Vain Unless Global Warming Kept in Check."
UNB. (2024, May 16). "Climate Change Makes Heatwave in South Asia Including Bangladesh 45 Times More Likely: Report."
The Business Standard. (2024, October 20). "Bangladesh Faces Climate Debt Risk with $79.61 Per Capita Burdens: Report."
Daily Sun. (2024, May 27). "Severe Cyclone Remal Batters Coast, Claims Life."
The Daily Star. (2023, December 11). "Bangladesh Caught Up in Extreme Weather Events."
Prothom Alo. (2022, December 4). "Women's Reproductive Health at Risk Due to Water in Coastal Areas."
Kaler Kantho. (2022, November 29). "Climate Change Is Taking Away 6.3 Percent of Global GDP Annually."
Daily Ittefaq. (2023, May 14). "10,000 Homes Destroyed: Mokha's Injury in Saint Martin-Teknaf."
The Daily Star. (2022, October 4). "Are Asia's Social Protection Systems Ready for the Shock of Climate Change?"
UNB. (2022, December 3). "Climate Shocks Have the Potential to Disrupt Food System: Matia Chowdhury."
Samakal. (2022, July 6). "School in Flood, Studies of 723 Students Uncertain."
Jugantor. (2022, October 26). "10,000 Homes, 6,000 Hectares of Crops, One Thousand Fish Pens Damaged."
The Daily Star. (2021, June 8). "Carbon Dioxide in the Air at Highest Level in 4 Million Years."
UNB. (2021, September 28). "Bangladesh: On the Frontline of a Planet in Peril."
Dhaka Tribune. (2021, July 14). "Local Adaptation Techniques Bringing Small Effective Changes."
Bangladesh Pratidin. (2021, September 16). "Forests Damaged by Sawmills."
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sustainability and Biodiversity Conservation
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
