Assessing National Discourse and Local Governance Framing of Climate Change for Adaptation in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

While many national governments struggle to maintain global climate change as a high priority issue, many local governments are taking action to fill the policy gaps. This study examines how local governments across the United Kingdom of Great Britain are reframing climate change. We compiled a dataset of newspaper publications covering climate change over a 10-year timeframe, plus survey and interview responses from local governance practitioners, to identify a shift in national discourse that has changed the priority level of climate change in UK local governance. This paper argues that many local governments are strategically reframing climate change as alternative issues in order to make progress in climate adaptation planning.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate change adaptation
• discourse analysis
• issue frames
• local government
• United Kingdom

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. See language and goals of the 2008 Climate Change Act—https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/reducing-the-uk-s-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-80-by-2050

2. See Feindt and Netherwood (2013) for a good overview of the use of discourse analysis in qualitative research with climate change and adaptation examples.

3. Green Alliance: http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/UKandUScompared.php

4. For more details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/securing-the-future-delivering-uk-sustainable-development-strategy

5. The Tory retreat on climate change is senseless—http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/28/tory-retreat-on-climate-change-senseless

6. David Cameron has become fracking’s biggest cheerleader—http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/21/david-cameron-fracking-green-investors

7. With budget cuts, Britain could change “beyond recognition”—http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/with-budget-cuts-britain-could-be-changed-beyond-recognition/2014/12/04/dcba7fac-6d0a-4570-9032-038c3eb7c3d4_story.html?hpid=z5

8. Overview of how local government finance works—http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/yourcouncil/finance/guide/default.htm

9. UK climate change spend almost halved under Owen Paterson, figures reveal—http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/27/uk-climate-change-owen-paterson, Labour or Conservatives—what powers are the major parties offering councils? http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2014/jul/10/labour-conservatives-powers-councils-devolution, Flooding: documents reveal UK government’s spin on protection cuts—http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/08/flooding-uk-government-spin-protection-cuts

10. 2007—http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-504788/Politically-correct-non-jobs-cost-taxpayer-600million-year.html; 2009—http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1171841/What-recession-Councils-offer-bizarre-non-jobs-including-roller-disco-coach-toothbrush-adviser-infants.html; 2010—http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294816/How-moneys-STILL-wasted-pointless-PC-jobs.html; 2011—http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358144/Labours-3m-town-hall-jobs-bonanza-employed-deliver-frontline-services.htmll; 2011—http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1375468/Public-sector-cuts-Ccouncils-recruiting-non-jobs-despite-frontline-service-cuts.html

11. For more information: http://www.theccc.org.uk/tackling-climate-change/preparing-for-climate-change/uk-adaptation-policy/

12. Green Alliance Infographic: http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/UKandUScompared.php

13. With the 2016 election of Donald Trump as President, there is great uncertainty that US progress and leadership on climate change issues will continue.

14. UK scraps zero carbon homes target: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/10/uk-scraps-zero-carbon-home-target

15. Britain’s damp, leaky homes among Europe’s most costly to heat http://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2013/nov/29/uk-homes-most-expensive-heat-eu-fuel-poverty

16. Working with local authorities for warmer homes http://www.nea.org.uk/policy-and-research/la-warmer-homes

17. Climate: observations, projections, and impacts http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/t/r/UK.pdf

18. England and Wales hit by wettest winter in nearly 250 years http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/27/england-and-wales-hit-by-wettest-winter-in-nearly-250-years

19. UK Climate Local Annual Report 2014, UK Local Government Association. p. 2

20. UK climate change spending almost halved under Owen Paterson, figures reveal http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/27/uk-climate-change-owen-paterson; Flooding: documents reveal UK government’s spin on protection cuts http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/08/flooding-uk-government-spin-protection-cuts

21. UK floods: “Money is no object” to end misery, says David Cameron—http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/10632181/UK-floods-Money-is-no-object-to-end-misery-says-David-Cameron.html?mobile=basic

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by US-UK Fulbright Commission.