Abstract

Since the 1970s at least, and with growing momentum, scientists have been testing the hypothesis of anthropogenic global warming, accumulating evidence and progressively reducing the uncertainties, resolving anomalies and winning over or silencing doubters and sceptics. The interest of the public and of politicians and, in particular, of the media followed a different trajectory, waxing and waning in ways seemingly unrelated to the linear progression of scientists’ concern and their growing unanimity. Research into media focus on climate change shows temporary earlier peaks, in 1992, and again in 1997, spurred on by a combination of natural disasters, political discussion and scientific reports (Mazur 1998; Carvalho and Burgess 2005; see also Chapter 11, this volume).