Framing COP28: How Political Cartoons Interpreted Climate Politics and Global Environmental Conflicts

This study examines how political cartoons framed the climate politics of the COP28 Summit held in the United Arab Emirates in 2023. Political cartoons are widely recognized as a significant form of political humor, shaping public understanding and extending the boundaries of political debate. Despite their growing use in environmental communication, there is limited research on how cartoons construct frames around global climate negotiations. To address this gap, the study analyzes 72 political cartoons using content analysis and framing analysis. The findings show that COP28 was predominantly framed through four themes - fossil fuel industry influence, greenwashing, political incompetence, and the climate crisis. These themes were further articulated through environmental, political, economic, and blame-oriented frames. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating how political cartoons function as discursive tools that critique climate governance and highlight perceived inconsistencies in global climate politics.