Representation in the Spanish press of the role of animal agriculture in the climate crisis

between lack of attention and carnism

Abstract

The animal agriculture industry has extensive environmental impacts, releasing greenhouse gas emissions while also constituting a serious ethical dilemma due to the exploitation of billions of nonhuman animals. In this respect, media are a key piece for climatic action. It is a responsibility of media to report on the causes of the climate crisis and on its solutions. This research analyses the Spanish press coverage of the climatic impacts caused by the animal agriculture during the period of 2013-2019. To do so, a quantitative methodology based on framing theory has been applied, including frames developed through the examination of previous research. The results of this study show that the Spanish press has underrepresented the role that animal agriculture plays in climate change – not allocating enough attention to it –, that many of the proposed solutions do not correspond with the current context of climatic urgency, and that they present carnist traits more frequently than frames in defence of nonhuman animals. All this involves hindering future ethical and climatic action.