Navigating climate change
A narrative analysis of the public tipping point discourse
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19480484 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anders Hansson (0000-0001-7282-8219, Linköping University, corresponding author), Jonas Anshelm (Linköping University), Simon Haikola (0000-0002-2874-4146, Linköping University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-12 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-12 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Climate and Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1756-5529 • E-ISSN: 1756-5537 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17565529.2026.2655961 |
| OpenAlex | W7153857074 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 38 |
Over the past two decades, the concept of ‘tipping points’ has gained prominence in natural and social sciences. A growing field within social science applies the concept in ways similar to natural science, aiming to identify and amplify societal tipping points in response to ecological ones. The paper examines the use of societal tipping points in the context of climate change, focusing on how the concept is mobilized in public discourse. We analyse how agency and cause–effect explanations are assigned and ordered in representations of climate crisis responses, contributing to debates about the function and adequacy of the tipping point concept. Through a narrative analysis of media articles in Sweden, we identify three public narratives: social, techno-economic and political tipping points. These narratives show how responses to climate are framed, emphasising the roles of social movements, technological innovation and political intervention. Social tipping points, which peaked around 2018, are portrayed as catalysts for societal change driven by collective action and shifts in public norms. The analysis suggests that tipping points operate as both an analytical concept and a rhetorical device shaping understandings of climate change, while also raising concerns about their use in social science and conceptual dilution
Climate change · Critical discourse analysis · Discourse analysis · Narrative · Narrative inquiry · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Public Relations and Crisis Communication
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A socio-technical transition perspective on positive tipping points in climate change mitigation
How to move the transition to sustainable food consumption towards a societal tipping point
Tipping Point Forewarnings in Climate Change Communication
Tipping Points and Climate Change
Public perceptions of climate tipping points
The politics of enabling tipping points for sustainable development
Promoting novelty, rigor, and style in energy social science
Social tipping points everywhere?—Patterns and risks of overuse
The blending of discourses in Sweden’s “urge to go ahead” in climate politics
The tipping point trend in climate change communication
Anticipating socio-technical tipping points
Narratives of climate change
Episodic populist backlashes against urban climate actions
The Politics of the Green New Deal
Tipping Point Discourse in Dangerous Times
Using stories, narratives, and storytelling in energy and climate change research
Narrative in Political Science
Renegotiating the Swedish Social Democratic Settlement
The Value of Narrativity in the Representation of Reality
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |