Uncertainty in Climate Change Discourse: An Examination of Regional Canadian Newspapers

This thesis examines the prevalence and framing of climate change across seven regional Canadian newspapers, with a focus on climate uncertainty, from April 1 to September 30, 2013. Results indicate that climate change and uncertainty are prevalent across Canadian newspapers, and that there is a prevailing discourse. Climate change is primarily framed as a contemporary issue that exists on an international scale. It is often linked to environmental, political, energy, and scientific issues; however, climate change itself is primarily de-contextualized. Climate solutions are especially lacking from the discourse and climate responsibility is either non-existent or related to government. It is thus not surprising that uncertainty within the discourse is primarily about climate action and solutions. Although there are some statistically significant differences between the regional newspapers in regards to spatial framing, climate context, and climate attitude, there does not appear to be any underling spatial pattern therein.