REDD+ politics in the media: a case study from Papua New Guinea

This study examines how policy debates on REDD+ have been framed by the media in Papua New Guinea. The content analysis covers print media articles mentioning ‘REDD(+)’ or ‘carbon trade’/‘carbon trading’ published between December 2005 and December 2010 from the country’s three highest selling and/or most influential newspapers. The study finds that media coverage focussed more on REDD+ issues at the national level, although international issues also gained media attention, particularly Papua New Guinea’s leadership role in advocating for REDD+ to be part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). REDD+ was often framed in political and economic terms. The analysis reveals that national government actors were the dominant voices in the REDD+ debate in Papua New Guinea, although environmental NGOs, NGO coalitions and research institutes were also prominent. However, the voices and opinions of local people and communities were missing from the debate.