Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong 1 “Shades of Green”: Environmental discourses Media, Politics and the Environment Miklos Sukosd February 27, 2013

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong 2 Discourses – what are they? Large worldviews, concepts, ideologies, including frames, agendas and metaphors in political and media language The need for reflection of the language we use in environmental journalism and communication “What kind of environmental discourse?” “Shades of green”

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong 3 Dryzek’s logic Making sense of Earth's politics: a discourse approach 1. Looming tragedy: survivalism (tragedy of the commons) 2. Growth forever: the Promethean response 3. Leave it to the experts: administrative rationalism 4. Leave it to the people: democratic pragmatism 5. Leave it to the market: economic rationalism vs 1. Environmentally benign growth: sustainable development 2. Industrial society and beyond: ecological modernization 3. Changing people: green consciousness 4. Changing society: green politics Ecological democracy

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong 4 1. Sustainable development We discussed in previous class, see class notes there. Discourse summary: no limits to growth, capitalist economy (competition de- emphasized though), anthropocentric, „think globally, act locally”, self-conscious improvement, open-ended learning of humankind (like lifetime learning), progress in the environmental era

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Central concept in environmental discourses like SD + bandwagon Common interest of government (public policy makers), businesses, and citizen-consumers Greening government (public policies) and business or (green capitalism) 5 2. Ecological modernization

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Most successful environmental policy performances: “clean and green five” (Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden) High energy efficiency of national income Low per capita emissions of pollutants Low per capita generation of household garbage and solid waste Rate of change of going green also leading Origins: precautionary principle (Germany and EU), dependence on imported energy (imported oil, Japan) 6

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Corporatist (inclusive) policymaking, including green NGOs, trade unions and employers - government Conscious and coordinated efforts Pollution prevention pays Much sharper focus than SD on what to be done, especially within the nation state Green capitalism as “Practical” SD 7

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Discourse: economic development and environmental protection can go hand in hand and reinforce each other; systems approach (production, consumption, resource depletion, pollution interrelated); limits ignored; partnership of government, business, reformist NGOs and scientists; capitalist restructuring of political economy; anthropocentric, focus on human desires and calculations; nature as waste treatment plant, Oikos (household): economics and ecology, social progress, reassurance, optimism. Technological vs. radical ecological (democratic, risk society- Ulrich Beck) modernization Critical point: green business aspects not emphasized enough 8

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong 3. Green consciousness Change not institutions, but human sensitivities, empathy, insight, experiences vs. reason Romanticism? Change starts with ourselves 9

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Deep ecology Ecological sensibility, self-realization and biocentric equality Deep consciousness and awareness of organic unity between humans, flora, fauna and the Earth Biocentric equality: no species, including the human species, is regarded as more valuable in any sense than other species vs. “anthropocentric arrogance” Diversity is intrinsic value irrespective of human interests 10

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Human population should be reduced „in the interests of the non-human community” Misanthropist extremes welcome famine and disease: humankind as a cancer of the Earth What to do? Wilderness: preserve and protect it Lack of policy visions Discourse: people should change first, not institutions, realm of culture and society, Earth First! how to convince others, and change institutions? 11

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Eco-feminism Not anthropocentrism, but androcentrism is the problem Patriarchy, male domination subjugating both nature and women Nature and women, nature in women: fertility—give birth and nurture children Male rationality took the world to the edge of destruction "Feel it” (“feel nature”) 12

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Bioregionalism Sense of place emphasized Ecosystem boundaries (watershed, vegetation) vs. political or ethnic boundaries Economic autarchy (self-sustaining regions) 13

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Lifestyle greens Green consumerism (prefers cosmetics without animal testing, local food, biodegradable cleaning products, recycled paper, Fair Trade, etc.) Vegetarianism on environmental grounds 14

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Eco-theology Spiritual roots of environmental problems: “be more humble” Environmental degradation: failure of Enlightenment project Christian: man as shepherd of the Earth, Book of Genesis Buddhist: karma, dependent origination, emptiness Hindu (Hare Krishna): karma, vegetarianism on religious grounds 15

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong Conclusions Discourses are larger, more general units of thought than frames Identification of different environmental discourses in media and communication Comparisons between environment. discourses SWOT analysis of environmental discourses (strengths and weaknesses) 16