Building Techno-Scientific Trust in the Future of Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise in Dutch Media Frames

Abstract

We analyse the role that the media has in building the perceptions and trust that people have in the future of adaptation to sea-level rise. Our article is based on the analysis of 504 articles from the Dutch media from the time-period of 2013-2023. The analysis builds on the notion of different forms of trust: generalised trust, system trust, process-based trust and ideological trust. The findings of the research add to the research field of trust in the governing of climate change adaptation and theoretically, our articles contribute to the development of the understanding that the media has in the construction and justification of techno-scientific promises. We find that the way that adaptation to sea-level rise is framed in the Dutch media legitimises technical solutions to the detriment of other solutions such as accommodation or retreatment measures. The media presents a hierarchical relationship between the different adaptation strategies, in which protection is at the top, followed by accommodation, while retreat is least preferred and trusted as an adaptation measure. This is further legitimised by justifying using significant resources on technical solutions. The media thus frames trust in continuity and “business as usual” -thinking in which future-making reproduces situational normality.

Keywords: sea-level rise, adaptation, trust, media analysis, future promises, techno-scientific trust