Narratives of distrust: climate change, disinformation, and the dynamics of right-wing media

Climate change narratives circulating in alternative right-wing media channels pose significant challenges to climate policy and action, as they shape public perceptions and hinder societal consensus on climate-related issues. This study examines climate change narratives communicated via the Midnight Rider Telegram channel, a media platform characterised by minimal content moderation and high susceptibility to disinformation. Using an inductive thematic analysis, we identify four interrelated narrative themes: faultfinding, disinformation, elitism, and appeal to emotion. Our findings reveal that climate change narratives in alternative right-wing media are more reflective of broader patterns in alternative right-wing media than those used in climate change communication. The narratives simplify complex climate issues, reinforce distrust in political, scientific, and media institutions, thereby creating polarised ingroups and outgroups, and exploit emotional triggers such as fear and anger to mobilise resistance against climate action. By highlighting how manipulative framing strategies undermine scientific credibility and deepening societal division, this study gives valuable insights for targeted interventions to counter disinformation. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for encouraging collective action, promoting critical thinking, and advancing efforts for effective climate action amid growing political polarisation.