Abstract ID: 3.10693 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Climate change impacts water resources worldwide, including Europe – particularly Southern Europe – where countries such as Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Italy increasingly grapple with water scarcity, droughts, heatwaves, and fires. Even in the alpine Italian region of South Tyrol, localized water shortages are becoming more frequent, potentially raising conflicts over resource allocation. By analyzing local daily news broadcasts, as well as online and print mass media, this presentation examines how local media frame water-related issues in the context of water scarcity. The study aims to enhance the understanding of water’s role in the South Tyrolean multimodal discourse, identify potential conflicts, and define climate change’s (potential) role in the water discourse. By shedding light on these dynamics, our findings support policymakers, activists, and interest groups in addressing water-related issues and contribute to scientific literature, laying the groundwork for future research.