The World Economic Forum puts climate change at the center of its stated mission. At Davos 2026, coverage specifically about climate *policy* hit 0.4% of total articles. Geopolitics got 67.5%.
The Coverage Breakdown
Out of 30,020 articles covering Davos 2026, roughly 120 focused primarily on climate policy.
The forum hosted climate sessions. They generated minimal coverage. The media prioritized geopolitics, AI, and trade disputes.
The Language Shifted
Even when climate appeared, the vocabulary had shifted:
- "Energy transition" (312 mentions) replaced "climate emergency"
- "Sustainability" (287 mentions) replaced "decarbonization"
- "Net zero" (89 mentions) became a distant aspiration
What Got Attention Instead
The coverage hierarchy:
- 1.Geopolitics — 67.5% of articles
- 2.Technology/AI — 18% of articles
- 3.Economics/Finance — 12% of articles
- 4.Climate/Environment — 2.1% of articles (0.4% climate policy specifically)
The broader "climate/environment" category captured 2.1% when including energy transition and sustainability topics. The narrower "climate policy" slice—actual policy discussion—was 0.4%.
The Greta Effect Faded
In previous years, climate protestors outside the conference drove coverage. This year, the activists were less visible in media coverage.
The media had moved on. Or rather, the media reflected what powerful people wanted to discuss.
What It Means
Davos shapes priorities. When the forum's coverage sidelines climate, it reflects broader attention shifts.