GTVÄÐͬ

While inaction on climate policy is often attributed to the constellation of organized interests mobilized, we still do not possess systematic maps of who mobilizes, and on what side of the debate, and in what policy arena. 

Using a multi-arena approach, covering the executive, legislature and media, we present data on the aggregate population of organizations mobilizing on climate change in Australia – one of the top 20 greenhouse gas emitters in the world. 

Our results indicate that there is a core set of organized interests that dominate climate policy in Australia. Surprisingly, we find that the media is the only arena that has a strong fossil fuel bias with carbon intensive industries most active. These findings suggest some critical corrections to the standing wisdom around the unity of business actors, and the conclusions drawn from looking at only one arena or one set of actors.

GTVÄÐͬ the speaker

is a Professor in the School of Regulation and Global Governance at the Australian National University, where he is the Director of the Governing Energy Transition (GET) Lab. Christian has worked as an advisor to several Australian Government agencies, most recently as a Principal Advisor on secondment in the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, and before that in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Christian holds a PhD in international relations and political science from the Australian National University, having graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours in economics.

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Image credit: AI generated image of black and white television set with a 1970s burnt orange background, adding to its vintage feel. The screen shows billowing smoke stacks, and suggests a media landscape out of touch with the times. Image by , from , used under .