Soft denial, hard consequences: Understanding how Sweden’s far-right information ecosystem frames climate change and influences public opinion

The project studies how climate change is discussed in Sweden’s alternative-right media and political ecosystem, focusing on neo-skepticism, a subtle form of climate skepticism that does not deny climate change but questions the necessity, effectiveness, or fairness of climate policies. The project examines how these messages are communicated and shape attitudes toward climate action. It will identify neo-skeptical framing through content analysis, map its spread across media and social networks, measure the effects of repeated exposure in a panel study, and test the impact of specific frames in experiments. By improving our understanding of neo-skepticism and its effects, the project will provide insights into how public support for climate policies may be weakened, increasing the risk of policy paralysis and delaying climate action.