Newspaper op-eds and opinion pieces

Actors at all levels and from all backgrounds cope with decarbonisation policy by publishing ideas, opinions and records of their activities in the media. This is a rhetorical strategy aimed at shaping public opinion for or against specific positions, and putting pressure on political actors toward a specific end. In the CINTRAN database, actors used newspapers to resist decarbonisation policy, establish, justify or gain support for adaptation activities, or argue for particular transformative outcomes.

This coping strategy was the most common strategy in the CINTRAN database. This is because it is used by all actors, and is relatively accessible. For example, we recorded newspaper content from NGOs, opposition party politicians, union leadership, fossil fuel energy companies, sitting government politicians, renewable energy investors or entrepreneurs, scientists, and general citizens. While political, social and economic elites are more likely to have their opinions published, most newspapers also publish opinions or perspectives from the general public.

In general, it’s hard to determine if a particular coping action in the form of a newspaper opinion piece has been successful. Usually, this strategy is part of a larger rhetorical or public conversation about wider policy and societal decisions. For example, public conversations for or against onshore wind have an impact on policy decisions, but are only one of many considerations that shapes current wind policies and attitudes.