The Far-Right's Climate Hoax: A New Angle on Swedish Media

As the 2010s drew to a close, Sweden's traditional media outlets were talking more about climate change than ever before. This was especially true during the summer of 2018, when a severe drought and wildfires hit the country, and the Fridays for Future movement, led by Greta Thunberg, gained traction. Interestingly, far-right digital media platforms in Sweden also started paying more attention to climate change. These platforms, which had barely mentioned the topic before, now made it a central issue. In this study, we looked at how three Swedish far-right websites covered climate change between 2018 and 2019. Using tools from critical discourse analysis, we found that these platforms often used conspiracy theories, anti-establishment language, and nationalistic arguments to respond to growing calls for climate action. This created a discourse where climate change was dismissed as a hoax, often signaled by the use of ironic quotation marks around the term "climate. " The far-right media's approach to climate change is noteworthy. By framing it as a hoax, they create an antagonistic narrative that challenges mainstream views. This tactic allows them to appeal to their audience's skepticism and reinforce their own ideological stance. The rise of this narrative in far-right media is a significant development. It shows how climate change, once a peripheral issue, has now become a central topic even in media spheres that were previously disinterested. Understanding this shift can help us navigate the complex landscape of climate communication.