Europeiska rådets gestaltning av klimatkrisen: En empirisk undersökning av Europeiska rådets inramning av klimatkrisen under åren 2019–2024

Abstract

This paper aims to deepen the understanding of how the European Council frames the climate crisis and its implications for political legitimacy and policymaking. The climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, influencing not only environmental systems but also societal structures and governance. By analyzing the European Council’s framings during the 2019–2024 strategic agenda, this research investigates how political actors shape narratives to justify actions and policies in response to the climate crisis. Through a discourse analysis of official Council conclusions, using a framework drawing on six typologies of framing, the research examines the Council's evolving narrative in the context of multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The results indicate that while the climate crisis was initially framed as an existential and ecological threat, the focus shifted over time toward economic opportunities and global competitiveness. This shift coincided with the integration of climate policies into the EU’s broader economic strategy while deprioritizing justice and ecological concerns. The discussion around the climate crisis diminished significantly after 2021, often appearing as a secondary consideration under broader economic or energy-related topics. This shift raises questions about the compatibility of economic growth and environmental sustainability and highlights the challenges of fostering legitimacy in addressing complex problems like the climate crisis. It argues that the economic framing of the climate crisis risks narrowing the scope of action, undermining the Council’s capacity to comprehensively address its multifaceted dimensions.