Office for Environmental Programs - Theses
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ItemOcean acidification: the puzzle of an absent issue( 2012)Ocean acidification is predicted to have significant impacts on marine species and ecosystems, with subsequent consequences for human societies. The scientific narrative frames this phenomenon as a significant problem, requiring the intervention of government policy. However, the issue does not appear to occupy a prominent position on policy agendas in Australia. This thesis examines this puzzle, with an aim to understand why the issue has not gained more prominence. To achieve this aim, this research draws on insights provided by the conceptualisation of the issue networks that exists around ocean acidification; analysis and evaluation of the social construction of the phenomenon as a 'problem'; the identification and reconstruction of evident discourses that have emerged around this issue; and evaluating influences on the position of ocean acidification on Australian policy agendas. This thesis shows that the failure of ocean acidification to obtain prominence on policy agendas in Australia is due to the interaction of a range of factors. It finds that lack of engagement by groups of actors who ought to be concerned by the issue, the absence of a 'populariser' to communicate the complex science to a wider audience and generate public awareness and concern, and the failure to adopt a coherent, concise story line, are all likely influences on the issue's agenda position. The dynamics uncovered through this research raise important questions about environmental policy-making processes in Australia, and the role of expert knowledge in informing governments
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ItemWhat's the story?: Fairness and equity in Australian climate change policy( 2010)In order to progress action on climate change at both international and national levels it is critical to identify ways of distributing the costs of mitigation and adaptation which are commonly agreed to be fair and equitable. This study uses a discourse analysis approach to investigate how Australian advocacy organisations frame equity issues associated with climate change in the national policy context. Seven central and prominently used `story lines' about equity were identified within submissions to the Garnaut Climate Change Review and Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper by eight national advocacy organisations across the environment, social, international development and business sectors. These story lines represent competing attempts to shape Australia's policy response to climate change by focussing on different concepts of equity, as well as different scales and timeframes over which they can be applied. I found that these story lines are utilised by Three broad `discourse coalitions'. Story lines found to be shared across sectorial boundaries, which focus in particular on the need to provide financial assistance to low income households and industries affected by structural adjustment, indicate approaches to equity that are more likely to shape national climate change policy. I also found little reference to equitable adaptation to climate change within Australia. The limited use of story lines emphasising Australia's responsibility for strong mitigation action by key national stake holders highlights the difficulty of implementing internationally oriented preventative climate change policy at the national level.