CLIMATE JUSTICE FRAMING IN BANGLADESHI NEWSPAPERS, 2007-2011

Drawing upon the concepts of framing theory, this article explores, through close textual scrutiny, how two leading Bangladeshi newspapers have approached the issues of climate justice while covering three major climate summits, Bali 2007, Copenhagen 2009 and Durban 2011. The analysis reveals significant shifts in the treatment of issues related to climate justice by Bangladeshi journalists. Earlier coverage framed the problems mainly in terms of compensatory and distributive justice, but by 2011 disappointment, lost hopes and the need for activist movement are more prominent. The final analysis identifies important tensions between international developments and local engagement and perceptions, indicating that national and even local developments to address climate change problems in Bangladesh seem set to become more prominent news items in future.