Fracking the Future: Temporality, Framing and the Politics of Unconventional Fossil Fuels

Despite scientific consensus of the need to rapidly decarbonize economic systems in order to avoid dangerous climate change, the exploitation of new sources of fossil fuels continues unabated. Over the last decade the global rush for energy resources has led to the development of a range of unconventional fossil fuels including deep- water oil drilling, tar sands processing and hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') of coal-seam and shale gas. This begs the question, why do we seem incapable of weaning ourselves off our fossil fuel addiction? One reason we suggest is the way in which such resource developments are framed within moments of political dispute. In this paper we explore the specific case of the contested developed of shale gas fracking in the UK. Through analysis of a series of public inquiries conducted by the UK Government, we analyze how industry, government and NGOs have engaged in a 'framing contest' in seeking to decide the future of shale gas development. By first identifying the different frames used by these actors in informing the dispute, we go on to demonstrate how particular framings are more successful than others through their greater temporal portability. In particular we argue, the example of UK fracking highlights the way in which different temporalizations are central to contemporary climate politics and provide a deeper understanding of the ways in which a 'fossil fuels imaginary' as a 'master frame' remains hegemonic.