British media ‘divorcing’ net zero from climate change – analysis

A growing proportion of articles in UK national newspapers focussed on ‘net zero’ are failing to reference climate change, new academic analysis has found. It points to a ‘divorcing’ of climate change from the solution to prevent it getting worse, despite low levels of public understanding around what net zero means. 

Failing to reach net zero emissions will mean climate impacts continue to become more extreme. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in its 2023 AR6 Synthesis report, agreed by all the world’s governments: “Limiting human-caused global warming to a specific level requires limiting cumulative CO2 emissions, reaching at least net zero CO2 emissions, along with strong reductions in other greenhouse gas emissions.”[1] 

In 2018, a year before the UK passed legislation for a net zero emissions target, the analysis found 100% of articles across nine major UK national newspapers mentioning the term ‘net zero’ at least three times, including in the headline, also mentioned ‘climate change’ or a similar term such as ‘global warming’. By 2024, this figure had fallen to 59%. 

In 2024, over 300 articles mentioned the term ‘net zero’ at least three times, including in the headline, without also mentioning 'climate change’ or a similar term. Over half of these 323 articles (166) were in the Telegraph. In the same year, 88 articles mentioned the term ‘net zero’ at least five times, including in the headline, without also mentioning 'climate change’ or a similar term. Of the broadsheet papers, the Times had the lowest percentage of articles referencing climate change, at 64%. 

It comes amidst public confusion and a lack of understanding around the term ‘net zero’. Polling from Climate Barometer in April 2025 found 22% of those surveyed wrongly thought net zero meant ‘producing no carbon emissions at all’, rising to 41% amongst supporters of Reform UK.[2] 

The research finds notable differences between titles. While in the Guardian, 71% of 2024 articles referring to ‘net zero’ once also mention climate change, that is matched by just 23% in the Sun; 27% in the Express; 32% in the Telegraph; and 38% in the Times. Two articles in the Express, one article in the Sunday Telegraph and one article in the Telegraph referred to ‘net zero’ a total of eight times, but included no mentions of climate change.  

The analysis, which investigated search results from the Factiva news monitoring tool, was carried out by Dr James Painter of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) at the University of Oxford, and was commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).[3] 

Commenting on the findings, Dr James Painter said: “Our findings show a growing proportion of articles are decoupling net zero from climate change. Many articles where net zero is both salient and dominant have failed to include any climate context at all.  

“Given the levels of public confusion around net zero, there is a clear case to argue that good journalistic practice would include a reminder, explanation or link on how it relates to the need to reduce emissions to halt climate change, or at the very least a simple statement outlining that scientists say reaching net zero is essential for stopping climate change.” 

Richard Black, former BBC Environment Correspondent, Founding Director of ECIU, and Director of Policy and Strategy at global energy thinktank Ember, said: “The global push for net zero emissions, of which the UK 2050 target is a part, was conceived initially as a response to climate change, because reaching net zero emissions is scientifically necessary to halt climate change. So although reaching net zero will bring many other advantages that are worth discussing, such as lower energy bills, energy security and freedom from fossil fuel import dependence, it is a bit odd to see that so many articles are failing to link the net zero solution to the climate change problem. It’s a bit like discussing all the emergent benefits of taking a particular medicine without mentioning the condition it was developed to tackle in the first place.”  

Professor Chris Hilson, Director of the Reading Centre for Climate and Justice, said: "Net zero has become politicised by populists as shorthand for attacking climate policy. This may explain why climate change is mentioned less often alongside it in news articles. Journalists writing about electric vehicles or heat pumps don't need to mention climate change as 'net zero' alone is enough to generate polarising clicks. This is problematic because net zero is a scientifically established target we must meet to stay within 2 degrees of warming.” 

Pippa Heylings, Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire and spokesperson on Energy Security and Net Zero, said: “Scientists couldn’t be clearer that we need to treat climate change with the urgency and seriousness it deserves. Public polling shows that the majority of the British public wants more climate action. So it’s disappointing to see newspapers failing to join the dots and acknowledge that hitting our net zero targets is the solution to tackling climate change and preventing its most damaging impacts; that net zero is the roadmap for climate action. Fair and accurate media reporting is vital if we are to ensure the public understands why net zero exists, how we can reach it and the fact that the net zero economy is growing three times faster than the wider UK economy, with job opportunities across the country." 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_FullVolume.pdf, P.19, Section B.5.1 

2. https://climatebarometer.org/new-public-polling-behind-the-noise-on-net-zero/ 

3. The researchers, James Painter and Will Vowell, analysed Factiva search results for articles including the phrase “net zero” from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2024. It is available to download here. 

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net