The Future’s a Gas: How “Corporate Realism” Undermines Decarbonization

As demand for climate action continues to grow, the fossil fuel sector is increasingly under pressure to justify its continuation. In this paper, we argue that there has been a shift in some parts of the sector from outright denial, or even delay, to claims of being an active part of a clean and green future. Using qualitative interviews conducted by the research team, alongside publicly accessible documentation from the Australian gas industry, our analysis shows how the industry employs a threefold strategy to navigate the tension between the necessity of climate action and its continued expansion. First, there is a shift away from substantive climate debates to discrediting activist’s moral and intellectual credibility. Second, the industry presents itself as the rational and pragmatic actor, advocating for a “technologically neutral” approach that prioritizes economic stability. Finally, it constructs a vision of the future in which gas remains central to the economy, technological progress, and global development. Drawing on Mark Fisher’s (2009) notion of “capitalist realism,” we develop the concept of corporate realism to draw together these responses. We suggest that corporate realism contributes to management and organization studies by illustrating the political and ideological maneuvering within the process of future-making. We also develop countermeasures to resist the corporate colonization of the future and support meaningful action on climate change.