1. The Framing of Climate Change – The View from Alberta and Beyond Lorelei L. Hanson, Athabasca University Greg Powell, University of Toronto

2. Purpose of Project Develop a better understanding of the context that influences citizen and government action/inaction and policy on climate change in Alberta over the past several decades Inform other research and the citizen deliberations associated with ABCD 2 AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013

3. Alberta Climate Dialogue (ABCD) SSHRC-CURA 5-year project involving academics and deliberative democracy practitioners from across Canada, the US, Australia and Great Britain Work with Alberta municipalities and non- governmental groups Key questions guiding the research: 1. 1.how do design choices shape how and to what degree citizen deliberations influence policy? And, 2. 2.how and to what degree does participation in formal deliberations shape citizen capacity to act? 3 AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013

4. Textual Analysis Frames Data gathering process of interpreting texts to make sense of the ways people make sense of the world around them (McKee 2012) Data gathering process of interpreting texts to make sense of the ways people make sense of the world around them (McKee 2012) “ “Frames are interpretive storylines that set a specific train of thought in motion” (Nisbet 2009) by specifying the relationship between various elements in a text Every communication involves selection, emphasis and presentation, and as such, frames are an unavoidable component of communication (Gitlin 1980) No message about climate change is ever neutral Frames resonate with core values and assumptions, allowing the receiver of the communication to rapidly identify if, and why an issue matters, who might be responsible and what should be done (Hulme). 4 AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013

5. Letters to the Editor on CC Contribute to a better understanding of the factors that shape climate change policy in Alberta and citizen engagement on climate change How it is best to frame communications about climate change to engage citizens A work in progress and results only preliminary AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 5

6. Data Collection Used Canadian Newsstand - selects 23 major papers from across Canada & includes the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald. Selected Letters to the Editor (document type: letters to the editor/letter section/opinion section) using the keywords climate change, global warming and greenhouse (to capture greenhouse gases, greenhouse effect and greenhouse impact) January 1, 2000 to Dec. 31, 2011. Result: 5482 letters. AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 6

7. Table 1: YearNumber of Letters 2000187 2001184 2002600 2003191 2004183 2005328 2006572 20071232 2008963 2009536 2010254 2011241 Number of Letters to the Editor/Year about Climate Change found in Canadian Newsstand, 2000- 2011 AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 7

8. Thematic Analysis AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 8 Technology Government Individual Solution not specified Slow population growth Industry responsible Reduce GHGs Myth Hurts Economy GW Beneficial Focus on Adaptation Other actors responsible Don’t Focus on GHGs

9. Climate Change Idea Major Signifying Narratives Science Moral Beliefs Economics Risk Development Governance AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 9

10. The Cultural Theory of Risk AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 10 Based on the Four Ways of Life by Douglas and Wildavsky (1982), adapted by O’Riordan and Jordan (1999) and Hulme (2009).

11. Context Kyoto ratified Harper defeats Day Clark gone G8 in Kananaskis CAN $ all time low Earth Summit – S. Africa 2002 Dramatic increase in GHGs UN CC Conference, Bali – Harper opposed binding targets on GHGs Live Earth concert 2007 Elections: Alberta (March), Canada (October) Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers – global economic recession 2008 AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 11

12. Frequency of Frames AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 12 Frequency of Views about GHG Reductions in Letters to the Editor in Canadian Newspapers, 2000- 2011* *Letters often fall into more than one category

13. Technology & Morality “It is also shameful so many people think that as long as they won’t be alive when the consequences of our actions become more evident, it doesn’t matter what we do as long as we’re comfortable while we’re here….Do the words gluttony and ignorance mean anything to anyone?” Susan Routledge, Edmonton Edmonton Journal, March 17, 2000 AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 13

14. Hierarchist “politicians should…” “nuclear power is the solution” “the government needs to…” “it is up to Stephen Harper to…” “we should invest in renewables” AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 14

15. Egalitarian “we need to transition to renewables” “it will take collective action” or “it will take all of us” “our industry organization is doing…” “citizens must….” “enough public demand will force politicians to…” AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 15

16. Individualist “engineers and scientists will solve this” “use ethanol in your car” “reduce energy use” “individual Canadians should…” “our company has…” “if we all plant a tree…” “the free market will solve this” AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 16

17. Frequency of Risk Frames Definitions of Self/Ways of LivingNumber of Authors % Hierarchist11172% Individualist5133% Egalitarian2114% Fatalist21% Total number of letters152 -----* AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 17 Cultural Theory of Risk Emphasis in Letters to the Editor, 2000, 2007 and 2011 *Percentages sum to greater than 100% because many letters fell into multiple categories

18. Conclusions Challenges of climate change seen in largely modernist, techno-managerial terms Challenges of climate change seen in largely modernist, techno-managerial terms Confidence in humans ability to control nature Confidence in humans ability to control nature High reliance on government to enact the regulations and incentives to promote action High reliance on government to enact the regulations and incentives to promote action Don’t see much Alberta exceptionalism so far Don’t see much Alberta exceptionalism so far AB Studies Symposium, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2013 18