Why is no one talking about climate change anymore?

The U.S. Captures Nicolás Maduro (New York Times, 2026). Famine imminent in northern Gaza, says UN-backed report (Reuters, 2026). Hezbollah's leader killed... Is wider war now inevitable? (BBC News, 2026). 

Within the first three months of 2026, we have witnessed rapidly developing news stories to the extreme that, whilst browsing the news headlines, we are mentally considering the possibility of wider international war. Day after day, week after week, conflicts become increasingly complex and arguably simultaneously destructive, rendering readers to a pessimistic passivity in their inability to act to alleviate these circumstances. Moreover, with these headlines understandably taking centre stage, it dampens the voice of other stories. Not only does it feel difficult to find any sense of optimism amongst the current headlines of continued war, rising oil prices and increasing inequality, but other significant issues have also lost their platform. Within your own recollection, when was the last time you saw an article raising the issue of climate change?  

Once a prominent issue, with Greta Thunberg on the covers of newspapers and magazines (TIME, 2019), leading youth protests, the significance of the crisis was at the forefront of many people's minds; climate change was a far more regularly debated subject. However, even when brought up today, the issue is alternatively framed as ‘extreme weather.’ In the political arena, climate change is becoming an almost offensive buzzword between voters and politicians. 

Perhaps the issue no longer needs to be headline news; everyone is seemingly aware of it, and therefore must be quietly chipping away at the issue. Unfortunately, far from it. More often than not, climate targets are not on track. The Climate Action Tracker demonstrates that global warming projections have largely flatlined since 2021, with little progress in lowering the temperature of the Earth. Furthermore, the withdrawal of the US from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, alongside the rollback of climate policies domestically, could add roughly 0.1°C to global warming projections by the end of the century. This American shift in attitude is only further highlighted through the Executive Order of Donald Trump titled ‘Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.’ (The White House, 2025). Not only does the headline fail to address climate change, but the document also frames the topic sceptically, putting climate change in quotation marks throughout. The scientific consensus is disregarded and replaced by a critique of a political or arguably an ideological agenda. 

Nevertheless, whilst not necessarily at the forefront of contemporary political discussions, it lingers in the back of the minds of many. I have spent the last three days attending Change Now, “The largest event of solutions for the planet”, and it is clear to see there are still many people passionate about fighting for our Earth. 

Recurring in conversations I had throughout the summit was an underlying consensus to rebuild attraction to the issue. This was more important than ever as investors and sustainability developers alike highlighted that linguistically, climate change has become too polarising a term to gain considerable investment. Moreover, short-termism is an additional hurdle to overcome. Whilst companies may tentatively seem willing to engage in a shift towards more sustainable practices, they are unwilling to invest in solutions where an immediate return isn’t apparent. 

Difficult to debate and even harder to implement, it raises the question of whether sustainable solutions will ever be incorporated. However, at events like these, it is impossible to disregard the 40,000 participants, including 10,000 companies, with a common goal of promoting a healthier solution for the planet. With topics ranging from agriculture and oceans to fashion and health, there is an expansive network of businesses and non-profits working towards a more ecologically sustainable future. It may not be the same feeling of collective action that we witnessed five or so years ago, but it does start the conversation and give reason to push for its return. With further adoption of sustainable solutions, it will be harder to ignore their necessity and, hopefully, push climate change back into the limelight. 

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