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.
