This study investigates the climate communication by the main political parties in Flanders. Its aim is to describe explicit and implicit evaluations that parties make about climate change and climate-related policies in the communication on their websites. To analyse parties’ opinions on climate action, the study uses the system of Appraisal (Martin & White, 2005), which provides a framework for interpreting expressions of attitude as a social tool to engage with others. The results show that the climate communication by Flemish political parties strikes an overall positive note. Differences in emphases aside (e.g., on quality of life vs. financial profitability), there seems to be a consensus on the need for, and value of, climate action. The communication by Vlaams Belang stood out as an exception: its negative tone, and critical content, gives signs of climate scepticism, forming a counterposition in the political climate change debate.

As scientific knowledge about what we need to do to limit climate change and mitigate its negative impacts is now well established, climate change has mainly become a social and political problem. Effective communication is needed to build public support for climate action. However, in order to make climate communication effective, a comprehensive understanding of the public is needed. This includes recognising diversity in citizens’ views towards climate change by distinguishing distinct climate segments and investigating what information sources these different climate segments rely on. Four climate segments are distinguished, ranging from the Engaged to the Doubtful, each with a distinct media diet.

Climate Citizens’ Assemblies (CCAs) have become a valuable tool for directly involving citizens in addressing the pressing challenges posed by the climate crisis. Central to their legitimacy is their capacity to engage a broad audience with the complexities of participatory and environmental politics. In this respect, the media plays a crucial role in influencing whether and how CCAs are portrayed. Recognizing a lack of research connecting media and (C)CAs, this study aims to advance the research agenda through a case study of the Luxembourgish Klima Biergerrot (KBR). Analysing 120 media pieces, we aim to better understand which factors influence both the volume and framing of a CCA in media discourse. Our findings are three-fold. First, coverage tends to be more extensive and positive when the media focuses on the CCA’s outcomes rather than procedural aspects. Second, media outlets with left-leaning ideologies tend to provide more extensive coverage but frame the CCA more negatively compared to right-leaning counterparts. Third, while the gender of journalists does not affect the extent of the coverage, it influences the framing: women journalists tend to present CCAs more positively. This research underscores the role of the media in communicating CCAs and climate action.