Vacuuming the Sky? Metaphorical Framing in News Coverage of Carbon Dioxide Removal Methods
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19480352 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Femke van Bruggen (0009-0006-2223-1522, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, corresponding author), W Gudrun Reijnierse (0000-0003-0147-2643, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Tim Groot Kormelink (0000-0001-5374-7536, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Elliott M Hoey (0000-0002-3220-8119, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Hedwig Te Molder (0000-0002-0599-8338, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-17 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Environmental Communication (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1752-4032 • E-ISSN: 1752-4040 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17524032.2026.2673348 |
| OpenAlex | W7162002137 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 49 |
Discussions of proposed climate solutions, such as carbon dioxide removal (CDR), are multi-layered and contested. This study examines the role that metaphors play as frame devices in news coverage (2018–2024) about CDR. Using critical metaphor analysis, we examined 257 articles from major UK, US, and Canadian news outlets to identify and interpret contrasting metaphorical expressions from journalists and their sources, including industry, science, and civil society. We find that a wide range of source domains, including references to, e.g. historical events, household objects, crime, religion, and medical analogies, is used to metaphorically frame CDR. These metaphors reflect actors’ competing ideologies and interests, rooted in hopeful rational-optimist and socio-ecological visions. We also discuss how metaphor use could influence public engagement and policy and reflect on how language might oversimplify or obscure critical aspects of the technology
Carbon dioxide · Framing (construction) · Metaphor · Climate Change and Geoengineering · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy
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| Highly cited | No |
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