Arabic Media Coverage of Climate Change and the Green Shift

This article analyses Arabic media coverage of climate change and the energy transition during COP26 through a systematic study of social media engagement with news articles. In a novel methodological approach, the research uses BuzzSumo data to identify the most shared Arabic content, combining quantitative social media engagement metrics with qualitative content analysis and computational topic modelling. The analysis reveals a distinct narrative emphasising economic opportunities in renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen, while simultaneously supporting continued fossil resource exploitation. Popular coverage frames renewables primarily as future export commodities that could replace oil and gas, rather than as necessary tools for combating climate change. This suggests a strategy aimed at maintaining existing political and economic rentier systems rather than risking (or opening for) fundamental structural change. Arabic media coverage thus reflects entrenched policy priorities that seek to preserve stability while positioning the region as a future leader in renewable energy exports.