Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Stuck in the tar? The implications of Canadian mainstream news media representations of a just [energy] transition from Alberta's bitumen sands

Gowan, Alicia LU (2021) In Masters Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20211
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Alberta’s Tar Sands are one of the most environmentally and socially destructive fossil fuel projects on Earth. Socio-political resistance or acceptance will determine the Tar Sands’ future: whether production continues or whether it is phased out to ensure meaningful climate action in Canada. I examined how news media communicates a “Just Transition” from the Tar Sands and proposed that their written formulations have wider social implications. My analysis revealed that news media framed the Tar Sands as being part of Canada’s future energy landscape with a techno-corporate-managerial role in the energy ‘transition’. Additionally, news media failed to discuss the Just Transition in a meaningful way. The implications are climate... (More)
Alberta’s Tar Sands are one of the most environmentally and socially destructive fossil fuel projects on Earth. Socio-political resistance or acceptance will determine the Tar Sands’ future: whether production continues or whether it is phased out to ensure meaningful climate action in Canada. I examined how news media communicates a “Just Transition” from the Tar Sands and proposed that their written formulations have wider social implications. My analysis revealed that news media framed the Tar Sands as being part of Canada’s future energy landscape with a techno-corporate-managerial role in the energy ‘transition’. Additionally, news media failed to discuss the Just Transition in a meaningful way. The implications are climate misconceptions and Just Transition illiteracy, foreclosing the opportunity to inform the public on transformative solutions, which could risk public acceptance of climate action. My findings raise questions on the news media’s role going forward and broader issues of climate communication. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Gowan, Alicia LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Alberta Oil Sands, climate communication, Just Transition, fossil fuel hegemony, sustainability science, Canada
publication/series
Masters Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2021:036
language
English
id
9048687
date added to LUP
2021-06-04 09:24:01
date last changed
2021-06-04 09:24:01
@misc{9048687,
  abstract     = {{Alberta’s Tar Sands are one of the most environmentally and socially destructive fossil fuel projects on Earth. Socio-political resistance or acceptance will determine the Tar Sands’ future: whether production continues or whether it is phased out to ensure meaningful climate action in Canada. I examined how news media communicates a “Just Transition” from the Tar Sands and proposed that their written formulations have wider social implications. My analysis revealed that news media framed the Tar Sands as being part of Canada’s future energy landscape with a techno-corporate-managerial role in the energy ‘transition’. Additionally, news media failed to discuss the Just Transition in a meaningful way. The implications are climate misconceptions and Just Transition illiteracy, foreclosing the opportunity to inform the public on transformative solutions, which could risk public acceptance of climate action. My findings raise questions on the news media’s role going forward and broader issues of climate communication.}},
  author       = {{Gowan, Alicia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Masters Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Stuck in the tar? The implications of Canadian mainstream news media representations of a just [energy] transition from Alberta's bitumen sands}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}