Climate Change and Renewables: Media Perceptions and Business Implications
Jan 23, 2018
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Climate Change and Renewables:
Media Perceptions and Business Implications 2017 and beyond
4/27/2017 CARMA 2
4/27/2017 CARMA 3
The energy industry drives the world
Climate change and renewables are now the most hotly debated themes in this industry
Best understand the position of the world’s most powerful media on these themes
Power generation may make the world go round,but it is the biggest contributor to emissions in the US
4/27/2017 CARMA 4
Renewables now bigger than coal in global power generation,but still unreliable, with no common economic model
4/27/2017 CARMA 5
67% of energy still comes from
burning fossil fuels
The relation between climate change and renewables may determine the future of the world:
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How is the media portraying the relationship
between the two?
Which countries are driving this debate?
Which seem detached. And why?
Is climate degradation portrayed as inevitable,
or is there a path forwards?
Are renewables seen as a solution or a distraction?
Which Climate Change mitigation strategies are the
media supporting?
Which renewables solutions are gaining most traction?
Are politicians seen as hindering clarity?
Is business engaged in the debate and, if so,
which industries?
How should business adapt to take account of media
attitudes to both?
Some notes on news analysis methodology
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Markets:UK, Germany, Spain, France, Russia, Middle East, US, Canada, China, India
Examples of 60 Media titles analyzed: WSJ, El Mundo, The Economist, Bild, Newark Star Ledger, Ouest France,
Toronto Star, Al Jazeera, The Hindu
Article relevance:Articles mentioning BOTH Climate Change AND Renewables
Time span: January 2016 – February 2017
There was no sign of media driving ‘Climate Change’ denial(although News Corp titles were less enthusiastic)
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Accept64%
Neutral25%
Denial6%
Mixed5%
Position on climate change in articles
Sentiment was positive towards Renewables & Climate Change; but more volatile and apparently in decline for Climate Change
4/27/2017 CARMA 9
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
Tone of discussion on Climate Change & Renewables
Climate Change Renewable Energy
FAV
And positive messaging in the media massively outweighed negative – except in predictability of supply
4/27/2017 CARMA 10
0 50 100 150 200 250
RE is key to fighting CC
RE investment distracts from addressing CC
RE is becoming increasingly competitive with FF
RE not competitive with FF
RE has show marked growth
RE is not growing or reducing costs
RE output is predictable
RE is not predictable
RE brings new jobs
RE does not generate jobs
Key messages in media
Volume of messages
RE has shown marked growth
UK, Germany & US had most interest, but moderate optimism.ME & RU much less engaged / but more positive outlook.
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40
45
50
55
60
65
70
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
UK GER US CA IN CN UAE FR SP KSA RU
National attitudes to Climate Changeand Renewables
Artile volume CC fav Renewable EnergyArticle volume
VOLFAV
France surprisingly disengaged given COP
21, but most pessimistic on CC
Germany, EU’s largest investor in Wind, is
optimistic on RE, but much less so on Climate change
UK’s interest overwhelmingly driven
by Guardian. Little interest in other UK
media
US: Most optimistic on business opportunities
from both themes.
India: Doing little to mitigate, but cheerful
on both themes
China: Now doing a lot about climate change
and energetically optimistic behind party
line on both themes
But Climate Change is what really interests the media – much more often the focus (49% Vs 26%) and much more impactful
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Mainly climate49%
Mainly renewables
27%
Equal emphasis24%
% of news focused on Climate Change or Renewables
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Climate Change Renewables
Impact of Climate Change stories vs. Renewables
FAV% high impact
The debate over Regulation completely dominates media. With Politics, this accounted for 54% of all stories.
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50
52
54
56
58
60
62
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Regulation PhysicalENV
Technology Biz strat Politics Advocacy(+/-)
Fossil fuels Science
Focus of media interestVOL FAV
Paradoxically, government is also seen as greatest hindrance to the development of Renewables
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40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Governmentpolicy
Tax subsidy Pricing Regulation Need for newenergy scs
Price O&G Businessopportunities
Key hindrances to the development of RenewablesVOL FAV
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And, aside from the US, most governments seem very detached from the debate. The EU & FR were near invisible.
NGO, 140
Academic, 120
Energy industry, 115
US Gov, 100Non-Energy industry, 74
Non-Gov Politician, 52
Think Tank, 46
CA Gov, 39
UN, 34
Analyst, 33
DE Gov, 33
UK Gov, 27
Oz Gov, 17
ME Gov, 16
CN Gov, 15
REG, 14
AFRICA Gov, 12EU , 12
FR Gov, 12
Swiss Gov, 7
ES Gov, 1
Volume of citations of various bodies
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Most surprisingly, business is largely absent from the debate on Climate Change and Renewables
No company,
73%
Company , 27%
Presence of business / company in news
Coverage of business is overwhelmingly in ‘difficult’ sectors, with solution-oriented articles very minor in the debate
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0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Industries present in coverageVOL % UNF
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But many themes relevant to business received highly positive attention, but are not being advocated by business
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Commercial Apps Technology Solar Panels Electric vehicles Innovation
Presence of 'solutions' in storiesVOL FAV
Business advocacy is also woefully quiet,although (aside Exxon), was very well received by media
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40
45
50
55
60
65
70
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Shell Exxon BP Total Statoil Tesla Chevron Siemens
Volume and favorability of business sourcesVOL FAV
Conclusions
Climate Change is driving media interest, with Renewables a side-show / possible solution
The overwhelming profile of both themes is mired in regulatory controversy
Governments, in their rare appearances (excl. USA), are not offering solutions / a lead
However …
Overall media profiling of combined themes is optimistic, key messages emphatically positive
But business has been reluctant to engage, possibly due to harsh criticism of the O&G industry
This industry, led by Shell and Total, is only just beginning to engage and this is well received
Certain solutions / technologies are gaining the highest ratings in all coverage
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Business has a major opportunity to take a lead in this debateE.G., by launching a major drive on R&D & implementations of renewables
This could in turn provide government with the stimulus to act This could be pivotal for success and cut growing anti-business sentiment
Thank you!
For questions or comments, please contact:
Jason Booms,
Managing Director North America
Copyright © 2017 CARMA International Ltd
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