The great moral challenge of our generation' : the language, discourse and politics of the climate change debate in Australia 2007-2017

Abstract

This is a thesis by publication comprising four published research papers and an overarching statement which examine the language and discourse of the climate change debate in Australia since 2007. Published over the period of my candidacy, the papers individually explore a range of questions about the broader underpinning drivers of a unique period of political disruption in Australia - the so-called 'climate wars'. Thematically, this thesis considers how the scientific urgency and moral imperative for climate change policy action, so powerful in 2007, degenerated into a rancorous political wedge that provided the catalyst for the removal of three sitting prime ministers. The thesis addresses a number of pertinent questions. What is it about climate change as a scientific, environmental, economic, psychological, social, cultural and ethical and ideological phenomenon that offers insight into this remarkable period of Australian political history? What does the political narrative of this period tell us about the taxonomy of public and political debate broadly, the changing political economy of media and its resultant impact on the relationship between governments and its citizens specifically? Given that scientific evidence of trend-breaking global temperatures is being reported in increasingly strident language, how can the discursive practices that have underpinned the Australian debate shed light on this political impasse and policy gridlock? The papers in this thesis have employed both a 'close' and 'distant reading' (Moretti, 2013) mixed methods approach to critical discourse and frame analysis. Two of the studies use the innovative computer-assisted content analysis software Leximancer (Smith & Humphries, 2006) to develop and analyse large corpuses of media data from a different perspective and from a unique place in the political timeline. Each paper employs one of these key discursive frames as a focal prism for what might be discovered about different ways of 'knowing' climate via the role of the language and considering the social and political function of the texts. The research ultimately highlights the power of language and the way that the framing of climate change via the media has worked to shape the political narrative, impact the public debate and direct the political action. Ultimately, understanding frames, and how they shape the communication of a contentious issue, is important for the development of effective strategic communication of significant public issues. Climate change is arguably, THE defining issue of our era.

Date of Award	2017
Original language	English