Discourse, Politics, and the Environment: An Ecolinguistic Perspective

This chapter investigates the complex relationship between language, discourse, politics, and the environment, framed within the broader concept of ecology, as examined through the lens of ecolinguistics. It provides an overview of environmental discourse within political genres, and explores how language functions in the construal of political ideologies regarding the environment. Key theoretical frameworks underpinning ecolinguistics are discussed in an interdisciplinary approach, also focusing on the integration of ecolinguistics with political discourse analysis. A novel case study is presented examining the language used in high-level statements from the Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings, as an ideal context to analyze how environmental issues are framed, negotiated, and communicated within global political arenas. Through an ecolinguistic analysis, the chapter demonstrates how language not only reflects but also shapes political narratives, influencing policy and public perception on both a global and regional scale. The chapter concludes by underscoring the importance of understanding the role of language in political and environmental discourse.