Deadlock or Transformational Change? Exploring Public Discourse on REDD+ Across Seven Countries

Abstract

This paper investigates public discourses on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) across seven countries to assess whether they support policy reforms. The paper argues that transformational discourses have at least one of the following characteristics: they advocate specific policy reforms that address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation; they take into account potential risks of a REDD+ mechanism; they go beyond technocratic solutions to reduce emissions; they explicitly challenge existing power relations that support drivers of deforestation. The evidence indicates the predominance of win-win storylines, a lack of engagement by state actors with debates on potential negative socioeconomic outcomes of REDD+ and little attention to the drivers of deforestation. The paper concludes that in order to achieve a shift towards transformational discourse, reformist policy actors and the media need to engage dominant policy actors in debates about how to reduce pressure on forest.

Revitalizing REDD+ Policy Processes in Vietnam: The Roles of State and Non-State Actors

“…This study shows that REDD+ state and non-state actors are preoccupied with discussions on highly technical issues-finding solutions for their own operational issues and pursuing their own agendas. Similar patterns were found in another study, where Vietnam's REDD+ actors relied extensively on scientific and technical justifications to promote REDD+ discourse [67]. The symptom of policy stagnation here is manifested in the absence of open dialogues on how NRAP formulation process should take place to allow for different views and innovative ideas while seeking common goals and securing commitments.…”

REDD+ politics in the media: a case from Nepal

“…While media coverage often reflects state actors more prominently than non-state actors (Boykoff 2008;Di Gregorio et al 2015), Nepal is a unique case. Although experts have dominated discussions, representative organizations of local forest user groups (i.e.…”

“…REDD+ has largely been portrayed as a win-win approach in the media, one that addresses climate change by promoting forest management along with development objectives Di Gregorio et al 2015). This portrayal is reflected in the reporting of REDD+ in Forging an effective role for mass media to enhance participation of weaker actors in the national REDD+ policy process…”

Moving consensus and managing expectations: media and REDD+ in Indonesia

“…A variety of policy actors influence REDD+ policy discourse and one way they do this is through the media (Di Gregorio et al 2015). Investigating how REDD+ has been portrayed in the media in the last decade in Indonesia, can therefore help us to understand how the REDD+ policy agenda and public perceptions of REDD+ have evolved over time.…”

“…2 Indonesia's REDD+ policy process and the role of the media Policy processes, events and actors all contribute to shape how REDD+ is understood (Di Gregorio et al 2015. They also contribute to affect the salience of REDD+ in the media (Entman 1993, p.53).…”