Opening up the societal debate on climate engineering: how newspaper frames are changing
The use of climate engineering or geoengineering technologies to combat climate change has been a controversial topic, even in the scientific debate. In recent studies, it has been claimed that the debate on climate engineering technologies may be closing down prematurely, with detrimental effects on the possibility of social and ethical reflection in appraising these controversial technologies. In this article the extent to which the debate on climate engineering is opening up or closing down is examined.
The diversity of English-speaking newspaper frames in the period 2006–2011 is analyzed. The results provide strong support for an opening of the debate, especially since 2009, given the decline of overly deterministic frames, the emergence of frames related to sociopolitical issues and an overall more balanced distribution of the various frames. This provides evidence that different perspectives are voiced in the public debate, which may enable societies to critically reflect on these emerging technologies.
Authors
Specifications
- Publication title
- Opening up the societal debate on climate engineering: how newspaper frames are changing
- Publication date
- 28 January 2013
- Publication type
- Publication
- Magazine
- Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences
- Product number
- 1033
