Exaggerated media focus on CO2
Christian Poll from the Danish Society for Nature Preservation thinks journalists focus too much on CO2 in the public environmental debate. According to him, the CO2-focus draws away the attention from other important environmental matters.
During the international climate conference Beyond Kyoto – addressing the challenges of climate change the global the CO2 emission will be thoroughly debated. This subject has gotten massiv media attention during the last two years. However Christian Poll, environmental worker from the Danish Society for Nature Preservation – an environmentally orientated NGO, finds that the Danish newspaper journalists focus too much on CO2 in the environmental debate. From his point of view, there are many other important environmental issues which need media focus, but are neglected since CO2 has become a trend word during the last two years.
“There is an uneven selection within the media coverage of the environmental debate. CO2 gets all the attention, and other very important issues are pushed to the side. This can have consequences for the environment in Denmark”, Christian Poll says.
Uneven coverage
According to the Danish newspaper database Infomedia the term C02 has been used in 4769 Danish newspaper headlines during the last two years. In comparison the term acid rain occurs seven times in headlines during the same period.
This is problematic, Christian Poll explains, because the environmental problem concerning acid rain is more or less just as important as the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.
“Acid rain, garbage accumulation and the release of chemical substances into nature are very important environmental national and international issues. But nowadays, because of many different reasons, we almost only read about CO2 in the newspapers” Christian Poll says.
According to him one of the reasons for this leap sided focus is the fact that the internationally attended COP 15 is coming up soon. COP 15 is a major climate conference taking place in Copenhagen November this year. The main subject of discussion is the global climate change where CO2 emission is believed to be a major factor of influence.
Other environmental culprits go free
Christian Poll agrees that the emission of CO2 is a problem of great magnitude but as he explains the one-sided focus can have direct repercussions for the Danish environment. He uses a case from the northern part of Jutland as an example.
“In Brønderslev there is a major environmental problem. All over the farmland of this municipality there are leaking containers of fertilizer which pollute the drinking water” Christian Poll says.
He explains that this problem is being neglected because the municipality has turned all of its focus on its participation at the COP 15. Only CO2 matters are being addressed and the water pollution continues unabated.
“Many other pollutions issues are running amok because the journalists have forgotten about them. The chemical industry is not being monitored by the media these days, which might turn out to be a problem in the future” Christian Poll says.
Difficult to comprehend
The complexity of the environmental debate might be part of the reason for this leap sidedness according to Christian Poll. He believes that it is difficult for journalists, who do not have special knowledge within the area, to comprehend what are the most relevant issues. Because of this they are affected by the government officials and lobby organizations etc. to follow their agenda. They are also affected by fashion trends.
“As well as every other citizen, journalists are affected by fashion hypes. And this issue is the fashion hype right now. The next hype will be social environmental responsibility, and then media might completely forget about CO2” Christian Poll says.
The chicken or the egg
Esben Ørberg, head of communication at The Danish Union of Journalists, agrees with Christian Poll in that journalists are affected by lobby organisations etc. when it comes to the focus within environmental issues. But from his point of view it goes both ways.
“One could ask oneself if it is the media which sets the agenda or if it is in fact the major players such as non governmental organisations, lobby organisations and so forth which set the agenda? The answer is, that it is both – there is a synergic effect here”, Esben Ørberg says.
According to Esben Ørberg it is obvious that there has been too much focus on CO2 in the environmental debate. Much of this has occurred because of the influence of the major actors within the area. According to him however it must be said, that there has also been a selection process within the journalistic redactions which has let to this leap sidedness.
Childhood of environmental journalism
According to Esben Ørberg it should be taken in to consideration, that the genre of environmental journalism, we experience now, where environmental issues get a lot of media attention, is still a quite new genre.
“One could say that we as journalist are still in the childhood of environmental journalism and we are learning how to best conduct it. It has been a challenge for journalists to acquire the relevant knowledge within this subject, but this will change over time” Esben Ørberg says.
The Danish Union of Journalist is having a workshop on the 29th of May which deals with correctness within the genre of environmental journalism. Among other speakers the Danish minister of climate and energy Connie Hedegaard will be attending.
By Hakan Jakob Kosar
I think this is a very important point and something that all reporters, not just environmental reporters, should be aware of. Carbon emissions also dominate environmental coverage in Australia especially as Parliament is debating the Trading scheme. There are many other issues relating to climate change such as ozone depletion that could be examined and reported in the press but are overshadowed by excess carbon coverage. Great story, thanks for bringing it to our attention and making us more aware of the stakeholders in our stories.