In the complex arena of international climate governance, media narratives play an instrumental role in shaping global perceptions and national identities. A recent pioneering study has harnessed the combined strengths of corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis (CDA) to unpack how British media outlets construct the image of China’s role in climate change. By examining nearly three hundred articles from two prominent British newspapers, the research not only exposes the nuanced linguistic strategies embedded in media texts but also highlights the broader ideological implications tied to these portrayals. This analysis comes at a time when climate diplomacy and international cooperation are more crucial than ever, making the findings both timely and impactful.
At the heart of this investigation lies a methodological fusion: corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis. Traditionally, corpus linguistics offers quantitative tools to explore large bodies of text systematically, revealing patterns and frequencies of language use across vast datasets. Critical discourse analysis, on the other hand, provides a qualitative framework to interrogate the socio-political contexts and power relations that underpin language. By integrating these two approaches, the study probes deeply into the British media’s discursive framing of China, affording both breadth and interpretative depth that isolated methods might overlook.
The media corpus analyzed consisted of 283 articles drawn from The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, two newspapers emblematic of different political and ideological spectrums within the UK landscape. Though these sources were amalgamated for this study, their distinct editorial postures typically range from liberal-progressive to conservative-leaning, respectively. This selection reflects an intent to capture a representative slice of mainstream UK public discourse on China’s environmental commitments and challenges. Nonetheless, the study acknowledges that future research would benefit from disaggregating these sources to discern how ideological alignments specifically modulate narrative framing.
Linguistic examination revealed that British media deploy several discursive strategies to negotiate China’s role in climate change. Central among these are nomination, predication, argumentation, perspectivization, and intensification or mitigation. Nomination refers to the way entities are named or labeled, shaping reader perception by foregrounding specific identities or roles. Predication pertains to the attributes or characteristics assigned to these entities, influencing how they are evaluated. Argumentation involves the construction and presentation of rationales or justifications. Perspectivization entails the articulation of subjective viewpoints or attitudes, while intensification and mitigation modulate the strength or attenuation of meanings. Together, these mechanisms perform a subtle yet powerful choreography of meaning-making.
The dual function of these discursive moves is particularly telling. On one hand, the discourse acknowledges China as a pivotal actor in global climate governance, recognizing its undeniable influence given the country’s scale of emissions, economic development, and international commitments. On the other hand, the same discursive palette contributes to a process of ‘othering’, positioning China as fundamentally different and often oppositional to Western environmental norms and expectations. This dual positioning reveals an ambivalent media stance, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions and cultural divergences that permeate climate diplomacy narratives.
What emerges from the analysis is a predominantly negative framing of China’s environmental role within British mainstream media. Specific linguistic choices—ranging from lexical selections to syntactic constructions—underscore skepticism, critique, and at times overt suspicion about the sincerity and efficacy of China’s climate actions. Such framing often juxtaposes Western countries’ purported leadership and moral authority against China’s perceived shortcomings, intensifying a discourse dichotomy between ‘responsible West’ and ‘deficient other’. This black-and-white depiction not only simplifies a complex reality but also perpetuates asymmetrical power relations in global climate conversations.
These findings hold profound implications for understanding the media’s role in sustaining ideological power asymmetries. Through discourse, media do not merely report reality; they actively construct versions of international roles and identities that shape public opinion and policy discourses. The portrayal of China in British climate narratives exemplifies how media texts can reinforce dominant Western paradigms and marginalize alternative perspectives. Such discursive power contributes to the maintenance of Western hegemonies in climate governance and obstructs more inclusive, multipolar dialogues essential for effective global solutions.
Beyond its immediate empirical contributions, this study enriches the theoretical terrain bridging critical discourse analysis and corpus linguistics. The innovative combination showcases how large-scale, data-driven investigations can be infused with critical socio-political sensitivity. This synergy allows for identifying not only what linguistic patterns prevail but also how these are embedded within broader ideological struggles. Importantly, this approach can be adapted to diverse cultural and media contexts, offering scholars a robust framework to explore the intersection of language, power, and international relations in depth.
The exploration of ‘othering’ as a discursive phenomenon further advances cross-cultural communication research. Othering involves constructing an outsider identity which is culturally, politically, and morally distinct from the in-group. Media representations often leverage this mechanism to explain complex global issues through simplistic binaries, which may foster misunderstanding, prejudice, and conflict. Understanding how othering operates linguistically in climate discourse is thus critical not only for media studies but also for diplomatic communication, fostering dialogue, and conflict resolution in a globalized world facing shared existential threats.
At a practical level, this research offers valuable insights into how British media wield discursive power in shaping global perceptions of China’s climate policies. Media not only inform but also frame international reputations, influencing public attitudes and potentially affecting foreign policy and diplomatic strategies. Recognizing this discursive agency encourages stakeholders—from journalists to policymakers—to engage more reflexively with media narratives, promoting balanced and nuanced communication necessary for fostering cooperation in climate action.
However, the study candidly acknowledges certain limitations that open avenues for further research. A primary constraint is the exclusive focus on two newspapers, whose content was aggregated rather than analyzed in isolation. This approach potentially conceals differences in representation tied to distinct political editorial lines. Subsequent studies would benefit from comparative analyses to discern how conservative and progressive media contours shape China’s framing in divergent ways. Additionally, the reliance on frequency-based measures in examining discursive strategies calls for more robust statistical techniques to deepen analytical precision and validity.
The temporal scope of the research also invites extension. Confined to a specific period, the study snapshots media discourse at a moment in the rapidly evolving climate policy landscape. Extending analysis across longer timelines would unveil how media narratives adapt to shifting geopolitical contexts, environmental developments, and public sentiment fluctuations. Such longitudinal studies would enrich our understanding of the dynamic interplay between discourse, ideology, and climate politics on a global scale.
This research marks a significant stride in decoding how national roles in climate change are discursively constructed within international media. By unpacking the linguistic scaffolding that supports complex political portrayals, it illuminates the often-overlooked mediating role of language in global climate governance. The findings invite academics, journalists, and diplomats alike to reconsider the power of narrative framing and strive towards more equitable and informed media discourses.
In a world increasingly shaped by transnational environmental challenges and interdependent policy regimes, media representations wield enormous influence. They shape not only what audiences know but also how they understand other nations’ intentions and actions. This study underscores the importance of critical media literacy and conscious reporting practices in an era where misinformation and ideological biases can jeopardize collective climate efforts. Enhancing public scrutiny and media accountability emerges as indispensable for fostering trust and genuine international collaboration.
Moreover, the intricate dance between discourse and geopolitics revealed in this investigation challenges us to reflect on the relationship between language and power in 21st-century global governance. The case of British media’s representation of China epitomizes how entrenched narratives can reinforce divisions even amidst shared environmental crises. Overcoming such discursive obstacles demands sustained interdisciplinary engagement, combining linguistics, political science, communication studies, and international relations.
Ultimately, this research contributes a vital piece to the puzzle of how communication shapes our global environmental future. It provokes essential questions about whose voices dominate climate storytelling, whose interests are amplified or marginalized, and how more balanced discourse might pave the way for cooperative solutions. As climate change continues to define the international agenda, scrutinizing and reshaping the media narratives surrounding it will remain a critical endeavor for researchers and practitioners alike.
Subject of Research: British media discourse on China’s role in climate change
Article Title: Representing the other: a critical discourse analysis of British media coverage of China’s role in climate change
Article References:
Liang, L., Wang, H. & Li, F. Representing the other: a critical discourse analysis of British media coverage of China’s role in climate change. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1168 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05456-w
Image Credits: AI Generated
