Research finds that global media distorts coverage of climate disasters

A major international study has found that global news coverage systematically overlooks many of the disasters most closely linked to climate change, while dramatic events such as earthquakes dominate headlines.

The research, published today (14 August 2026) in Nature Human Behaviour, by economists Professor Thiemo Fetzer (University of Warwick and University of Bonn) and Dr Prashant Garg (Imperial College London), reveals that international news media systematically underreport many of the disasters most closely linked to climate change—while giving disproportionate attention to dramatic, sudden events.

By analysing more than 135 million news articles from 466 outlets in 123 countries, the researchers show that what makes global headlines often reflects drama and proximity, rather than climate relevance or long-term impact.

Key findings:

• Climate disasters receive less attention
• Fatalities threshold of 20 deaths drive global news attention
• Global coverage shaped by social and cultural proximity

The findings suggest that current media coverage may be skewing public understanding of climate change risks at a critical moment for global action.

Lead author Thiemo Fetzer, Professor of Economics, University of Warwick, said: “This research shows that global media coverage is not neutral. It systematically prioritises certain disasters over others, which can distort how people understand climate risks and where attention is directed.

“If events linked to climate change are underreported, this may weaken the collective sense of urgency needed to address them. More balanced reporting is critical for building global awareness and co-operation.”

The study showed that an earthquake leads to a 7.4% increase in the volume of news articles after that country experiences a natural disaster, compared to no systematic increase in reporting when a country is affected by floods, droughts, or extreme temperatures.

International coverage increases sharply once fatalities exceed a threshold of around 20 deaths, suggesting that newsworthiness is often triggered by visible tragedy, rather than long-term impact.

The research also highlights how patterns of media attention are influenced by the relationships between countries. Disasters are more likely to be covered when they occur in countries that share cultural, historical, and social ties.

Taken together, these factors risk distorting perceptions of global climate risks, limiting public understanding of widespread but less visible threats, and creating uneven patterns of empathy and international concern. At a time when coordinated global action is essential, such imbalances could undermine support for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

The paper, ‘Uneven Patterns of Cross-Border Media Coverage Following Natural Disasters’, is published in Nature Human Behaviour.

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

About the study:

• The study analysed 3,769 natural disasters globally since 2016.
• Covered 135 million news articles.
• Data was drawn from the Europe Media Monitor (EMM) and the EM-DAT disaster database.
• The dataset includes 466 media outlets across 44 languages in 123 countries.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-026-02512-6

Participation and Funding:

• The University of Warwick, the University of Bonn, and Imperial College London were involved in the study.
• The work was funded by a Philip Leverhulme Prize in economics, a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), and the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG).

Images used:

• “2012 drought in Oxfordshire, UK” by Global Water Forum, CC BY 2.0, https://flic.kr/p/dy3LGw
• “drought” by Joanna Král, CC BY 2.0, https://flic.kr/p/29yXKeF

For more information please contact:

• Dom Barker, Media & Communications Officer
• Dom.Barker@warwick.ac.uk | 07824 540727
• General and out-of-hours press office number: +44 (0)7392 125605 (please call as emails are not checked out of office hours).

About the University of Warwick:

Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.

14 August 2026