Framing the future of fracking: Discursive lock-in or energy degrowth in the Netherlands?

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2018-10, Vol.197 (2), p.1737-1745
• Main Author: Metze, Tamara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Degrowth; Framing; Hydraulic fracturing; Shale gas; Socio-technological futures; Technology
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.158

Hydraulic fracturing is a technology developed to improve and increase the production of natural gas. In many countries, including the Netherlands, it has caused environmental controversies. In these controversies, ‘futurity framing’ may open up debates for alternative paradigms such as ‘degrowth,’ which is the pursuing of collective and deliberative, downscaled production of (natural) resources and less consumption for convivial living. Based on a frame analysis, it is demonstrated that opponents and proponents of fracking have envisaged pessimistic energy futures either to promote or devaluate fracking technology. In addition, the results show that dominant technological enthusiasm has enabled the introduction of ‘degrowth technology,’ which are downscaled, decentralized and renewable energy technologies. Degrowth-technology framing may provide a means of access for more radical degrowth thinking in the energy debates. This empirical finding also indicates that the degrowth paradigm could include controversies as entry points for creating support for degrowth thinking. •Degrowth thinking can be considered a form of futurity framing.•Pessimistic energy futures dominated the shale gas controversy in the Netherlands.•Degrowth futurity framing was almost absent in the controversy.•Technology optimism allowed opponents to shale to introduce elements of a degrowth technology frame.•The degrowth paradigm should include controversies as opening wedges in public debates to gain support for this futurity framing.