Abstract
Justice is a significant undercurrent in journalism and in international politics on climate change. Yet it is too seldom explicitly discussed or problematized in these contexts. This largely theoretical and explorative chapter heeds the re-thinking of justice, responsibility and solidarity in a globalizing world, as expressed in political philosophy as well as in media studies. The international politics of climate change are most pertinently discussed and evaluated in editorials, which provide the research material for this chapter. In qualitatively examined example editorials from high-income countries, the discourse calls for global action while concurrently applying diverse versions of domestication. The editorials use strong obligation modality language (something “must” be done), refer to responsibility and justice, but do not specify the injustice or what should be done to amend it. The discourse does not (yet) reassess economic privilege or the dynamics of political representation. It is a solidaritarian discourse, but only vaguely so due to lack of specifications.
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Notes
- 1.
For information on high-income countries, see http://data.worldbank.org/income-level/OEC
- 2.
There has been more research on social media and climate justice (Askanius and Uldam 2012; Uldam and Askanius 2013) and on climate change protests (Segerberg and Bennett 2011; Ytterstad and Russell 2012).
- 3.
Images are not considered here since the analysis focuses on linguistics
- 4.
Persson, I. (2014). The climate threat—A political problem. Aftonbladet, November 3. Retrieved from http://www.aftonbladet.se/ledare/ledarkronika/ingvarpersson/article19794981.ab. This piece is presented as an editorial chronicle, produced by an editorial writer and published under the heading “Editorial”.
- 5.
Revkin, A. C. (2014). In joint steps on emissions, China and US set aside “you first” approach on global warming. The New York Times (The Opinion Pages, Dot Earth), November 11. Retrieved fromhttp://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/in-joint-steps-on-emissions-china-and-u-s-set-aside-you-first-approach-on-global-warming/?_r=0. While each Dot Earth entry is signed, they are not invited pieces by outsiders or by diverse staff writers (i.e. not really op-ed). Instead, Revkin is provided with an institutional space to make his own regular commentary, arguably, on behalf of the newspaper. It was thereby included as part of the sample of editorials and specific climate opinion sections.
- 6.
The portion of the article featuring the reprinted agreement is not analyzed here.
- 7.
Immediate global action needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions. (2014, November 6). The Yomiuri Shimbun. Retrieved from http://www.asianewsnet.net/ann_news.php?a=http://www.asianewsnet.net/Immediate-global-action-needed-to-cut-greenhouse-g&id=67155.This is an un-signed piece termed “editorial” by the newspaper.
- 8.
Climate: We have the solutions. (2015, April 5). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved from http://www.dn.se/ledare/huvudledare/vi-har-losningarna/ This un-signed editorial is labeled “the main editorial” of the day.
- 9.
Dire UN climate change report is a call to action. (2014, April 1). The Toronto Star. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/03/31/dire_un_climate_change_report_is_a_call_to_action_editorial.html.This un-signed editorial is featured under ‘Opinion’ and more specifically ‘Editorials’.
- 10.
Lomborg, B. (2014). Romson’s goodwill does not help the poor. (2014, November 2). Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved from http://www.svd.se/romsons-goda-vilja-hjalper-inte-de-fattiga. This is a signed piece under the heading ‘Editorial’.
- 11.
Climate: let’s move from irresponsibility to action! (2013, September 29–30). Le Monde, p. 1. The editorial was translated by Armèle Cloteau, Rennes Institute of Political Studies, France. This is an un-signed editorial placed on the front page and labeled “Editorial”.
- 12.
Persson, I. (2014). The climate threat—A political problem. Aftonbladet, November 3. Retrieved from http://www.aftonbladet.se/ledare/ledarkronika/ingvarpersson/article19794981.ab.For details, see the previous footnote on this article.
- 13.
“No regrets” policy is now necessary for stopping global warming. (2013, October 3). Asahi Shimbun, p. 16. The editorial was translated by Shinichiro Asayama, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan.
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Roosvall, A. (2017). Journalism, Climate Change, Justice and Solidarity: Editorializing the IPCC AR5. In: Kunelius, R., Eide, E., Tegelberg, M., Yagodin, D. (eds) Media and Global Climate Knowledge. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52321-1_6
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