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Petrochemical transition narratives : selling fossil fuel solutions in a decarbonizing world
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Tilsted, Joachim Peter, Mah, Alice, Nielsen, Tobias Dan, Finkill, Guy and Bauer, Fredric (2022) Petrochemical transition narratives : selling fossil fuel solutions in a decarbonizing world. Energy Research & Social Science, 94 . 102880. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2022.102880 ISSN 2214-6296. [ 🗎 Public]. [ (✓) hoa:511 ]
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WRAP-petrochemical-transition-narratives-selling-fossil-fuel-solutions-decarbonizing-world-Mah-2022.pdf - Published Version - Requires a PDF viewer. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (724Kb) | Preview |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102880
Abstract
Being integral to the fossil-based energy order and as a key driver of multiple and intersecting ecological crises, the petrochemical industry faces increasing pressures to transform. This paper examines how major petrochemical companies navigate these pressures. Drawing from literatures on discursive power, narratives, and neoGramscian political economy, we introduce the concept of narrative realignment as a nuanced iteration of corporate discursive power that reframes problems of and solutions to green transitions. Specifically, we identify and explore common transition-related narratives, analysing climate and sustainability communications from the largest producers in the petrochemical sector. We argue that these strategic narratives portray the petrochemical industry as key to a successful transition and fend off criticisms by reducing them to misunderstandings. This framing works to reduce pressures for deep mitigation while repositioning the industry as part of the solution. Building on these findings, we demonstrate how petrochemical transition narratives relate to but also diverge from the position of fossil fuel extractors. Despite relying on fossil feedstock and being solidly placed in the fossil economy, petrochemical majors increasingly focus on repositioning themselves proactively as transition enablers. The argument illustrates the work of downstream actors to legitimize the existing energy order.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | |||||||||
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| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor J Political Science > JZ International relations T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology | |||||||||
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Petroleum chemicals industry, Energy transition, Fossil fuels -- Environmental aspects, Carbon dioxide mitigation, Hegemony | |||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Energy Research & Social Science | |||||||||
| Publisher: | Elsevier | |||||||||
| ISSN: | 2214-6296 | |||||||||
| Official Date: | December 2022 | |||||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 94 | |||||||||
| Article Number: | 102880 | |||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102880 | |||||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | |||||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | |||||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | |||||||||
| Date of first compliant deposit: | 21 November 2022 | |||||||||
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 21 November 2022 | |||||||||
| RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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