Exploring Transition Tensions in Public Opinion on the COP26 Coal Phase-out Deal for South Africa as Expressed on Facebook

The primary focus of this study is the analysis of public discourse on social media concerning the COP26 coal phase-out deal and its implications for South Africa's energy landscape. Facebook, as a platform for public deliberation and opinion formation, provides an intriguing case study for understanding how the general populace receives, discusses, and critiques environmental policies. Our qualitative approach, utilizing sentiment and thematic analyses, delves deep into these discussions, revealing the multifaceted nature of public opinion.

The dataset comprises 31 news posts shared by South African news media discussing the COP26 coal phase-out deal. The search terms used included "COP26," "COP26, energy," and "COP26, transition." These 31 news articles, included in the study, were posted between November 2, 2021, and January 1, 2022.