Olivier Ejderyan (ETH Zurich) conducted a qualitative media analysis of 115 articles about deep geothermal energy (DGE) in three French-speaking Swiss newspapers within task 3.3 "Risk Governance". The results are part of a comparative media analysis that also includes French and British media, conducted with teams of the University of Strasbourg and the University of Glasgow. The goal was to provide an overview of media frames, that means, the ways in which media present specific topics or stories. Media frames do not necessarily reflect stakeholders’ preferences, but they are good indicators of public perception and highlight issues that will most likely be debated and contested in public.
Results indicate that DGE is framed as a technical matter that requires public risk governance. The main risks which DGE is associated with, are induced earthquakes. Seismic risk is predominantly framed as a phenomenon whose negative consequences are not dramatic and can be managed. A closer look at the governance frame indicates disagreements between experts, politicians and the population on who should have a voice in decisions about DGE. It also reveals that these groups have different understandings of what constitutes timely and sufficient information. These results highlight the importance of addressing the governance of DGE not only on a technical level but also on a procedural level.
These analyses will be completed with further case studies and the results will form to recommendations for the governance of DGE at an European level.