"They can't become the enemy"

Abstract: Climate refugees are becoming increasingly common due to increased global warming as a result of excess emissions, the vast majority of which come from the Global North. The aim of this thesis is to examine how the climate refugee issue is described in Swedish media against a backdrop of a potential conflict between a Swedish self-image as progressive in humanitarian matters, and the recent stricter migration policies. The thesis examines Swedish newspaper articles discussing climate refugees published between 2015 and 2022. The WPR method is utilized to answer how climate refugees are portrayed, and how the responsibility to protect both Swedish citizens and climate refugees is manifested. Findings show the portrayal constructs climate refugees as security threats, which evokes the responsibility to protect Swedish citizens from said threat. Simultaneously, the responsibility to protect climate refugees is evoked through a manifestation of Swedish morality and accountability as part of the Global North. However, this responsibility is handed over to the UN due to the complex nature of the issue. The analysis shows an interconnectedness between securitization and the Good International Citizen as the discourse protects the idea of Sweden as progressive, yet avoiding taking direct responsibility for climate refugees.