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Dominant counter-frames in influential climate contrarian European think tanks

Author

Listed:
  • Núria Almiron

    (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)

  • Maxwell Boykoff

    (University of Colorado-Boulder)

  • Marta Narberhaus

    (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya)

  • Francisco Heras

    (Independent Researcher, Paseo de la Constitución 24)

Abstract

Numerous studies to date have interrogated United States (US) think tanks—and their networks—involved in climate change countermovement (CCM). Comparatively in Europe (EU), research has been lacking. This investigation therefore attends to that gap. We conducted a frame analysis on eight most prominent contrarian think tanks in six countries and four languages in Europe over 24 years (1994–2018). We found that there has been consistent contrarian framing through think tanks in the EU regarding climate change. Yet, we found a proliferation of contrarian outputs particularly in recent years. This uptick in quantity correlates with increases in CCM activities in the US. Our content analyses showed that well-worn climate change counter-frames spread by US CCM organizations were consistently circulated by European organizations as well. Moreover, we found that, as in the US, neoliberal ideological stances stood out as the most frequently taken up by contrarian think tanks in Europe. As such, we documented that CCM tropes and activities have flowed strongly between US and EU countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Núria Almiron & Maxwell Boykoff & Marta Narberhaus & Francisco Heras, 2020. "Dominant counter-frames in influential climate contrarian European think tanks," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2003-2020, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:162:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02820-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02820-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maxwell Boykoff, 2024. "Climate change countermovements and adaptive strategies: insights from Heartland Institute annual conferences a decade apart," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Samuel Pearson & Matthew J. Hornsey & Saphira Rekker & Belinda Wade & Chris Greig, 2024. "Publicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(5), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Plehwe, Dieter, 2022. "Reluctant transformers or reconsidering opposition to climate change mitigation? German think tanks between environmentalism and neoliberalism," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue Latest Ar, pages 1-1.
    4. Vanessa Roger‐Monzó & Fernando Castelló‐Sirvent, 2023. "Soft power in global governance: fsQCA of thematic specialization strategies of European think tanks," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(2), pages 288-304, May.

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