For long, British tabloids like The Sun or The Daily Express which were right-leaning newspapers had a negative stance on global warming or climate change and professed their scepticism to the readers by being averse to progressive policies like stronger climate action.
However, this trend is changing as these tabloids are softening their stance on such environmental causes amid rising environmental consciousness and eco-awareness of their readers. This is also coupled by their changing business strategy as the emergence of online media and stiff competition has acted as an enabler for these tabloids to appeal to the younger demographics and the issues they are in touch with.

So what?

Media and newspapers play an important role in establishing public perception on various issues. While left-leaning newspapers like The Independent or The Guardian had always focussed on environmental causes with bigger focus on international cooperation and the role of global markets, the shift in the focus of the right-leaning tabloids signal a change of how newspapers are being driven by consumer interests and perceptions and how this shift can help define consumer behaviour going forward. This might lead to a cascading effect where consumer interest drives increased emphasis on topics concerning the gravity of climate change which in turn increases responsible consumer behaviour. However, the core values of such tabloids still remain intact- like defining the narrative from an individualistic viewpoint or touching upon the issue clouded by hints of nationalism. Will this changing trend cause the newspapers to adopt a more global outlook in a bid to hold their competitive edge in an increasingly growing and tough market or will this stance incite a more responsible consumption pattern in their core readers by striking a chord with their individualistic and nationalistic overtones?