When I first learned about the idea of Manufacturing Consent, I thought it only applied to politics and news. But the more I read and watched, the more I realised that it also fits perfectly into how we talk about climate change today. It’s not just about media lying or hiding facts. It’s about how certain stories get told over and over again — until they start to feel like the truth.
In simple terms, Manufacturing Consent means that what people agree on is not always natural or free. Sometimes, it’s shaped by systems of power — by governments, companies, and even the media itself. We see, hear, and share messages that make some ideas seem normal and others disappear quietly in the background.
When I looked at how climate change is discussed in the UK, I noticed this pattern too. The government publishes detailed reports like the City of London Air Quality Strategy 2025–2030, showing strong goals and impressive progress. News articles and documentaries talk about London becoming greener and cleaner since the Great Smog of 1952. The message feels inspiring — we’ve learned from the past, and now we’re leading the world in fighting pollution and climate change.
But I started to wonder: is this the full picture?
These stories focus on success, but rarely on what still goes wrong — who still breathes dirty air, who can’t afford clean energy, or how large corporations keep polluting while promoting “green” images. The optimistic tone makes it easy to believe that the problem is under control. Maybe that’s another form of “manufactured consent”: we all agree that climate change matters, but we’re encouraged to feel calm rather than critical.
This thought brought me back to the documentary The Island President (2011). It follows Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, a small island nation facing the real threat of disappearing because of rising sea levels. Nasheed travels around the world, trying to get powerful countries to take stronger action. At first, it feels hopeful — people listen, conferences happen, everyone seems to care. But then the camera shows the reality: the final decisions are made by the same big nations that caused most of the damage. Small countries like the Maldives can speak, but they can’t really change the outcome. Their “agreement” is expected, not chosen.
I found that moment heartbreaking, because it shows how even global cooperation can be shaped by power. The “climate consensus” that looks so harmonious in headlines is actually built on deep inequality. And that’s exactly what Manufacturing Consent helps me to see — how agreement can sometimes hide the imbalance behind it.
In both stories — London’s clean air campaigns and the Maldives’ climate struggle — the surface message is the same: we are acting together. But behind that message, the reality feels more complicated. Maybe we don’t question it enough because we want to feel hopeful. Maybe hope itself is part of what keeps the system stable.
As a PR and Advertising student, this makes me think about how powerful communication really is. It can bring people together, but it can also simplify problems until they feel safe and distant. Learning about Manufacturing Consent has made me realise that awareness isn’t always pure — it can be shaped, sold, and softened. So next time I read about “climate progress,” I’ll try to look a little deeper: not just at what is said, but at what is left out.
References
City of London, 2023. Air Quality Strategy 2025–2030. [online] Available at: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/Services-Environment/city-of-london-air-quality-strategy-2025-2030.pdf [Accessed 11 November 2025].
Ciplet, D., Roberts, J.T. and Khan, M.R., 2015. Manufacturing Consent. In: Power in a Warming World: The New Global Politics of Climate Change and the Remaking of Environmental Inequality. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp.75–100.
Herman, E.S. and Chomsky, N., 1988. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. New York: Pantheon Books.
Shenk, J. (2011) The Island President [Film]. Directed by Jon Shenk. USA: Actual Films. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK-8YX0A8xE (Accessed: 11 November 2025).
Your point about “manufactured consent” was especially thought provoking; sometimes we feel reassured, but we rarely question what might be hidden behind these messages.
I also agree with your observation about power and whose voices get amplified. The example from The Island President illustrates how smaller countries can be overlooked, even when their situations are urgent. I found your reflection on hope particularly interesting how it can be comforting, yet also prevent us from challenging the status quo. Overall, your post reminded me to dig deeper and look beyond the surface when engaging with social issues. Thank you for encouraging a more critical perspective. I think more people should ask these kinds of questions, not only about climate change but about other important topics as well. I’m looking forward to reading your next post!