Reconciling climate change leadership with resource nationalism and regional vulnerabilities: a case-study of Kazakhstan

This contribution explores how climate change is presented in one of the most established Kazakhstani newspapers, Kazakhstanskaya Pravda. Using quantitative and qualitative frame analyses, we explore patterns of climate change communication through the focus on framing of climate science, consequences, and responsibilities. We argue that resource nationalism shapes climate discussion in Kazakhstan with climate change emerging as a state-controlled ‘resource’. We also identify that the coverage of national and international responsibilities is reflective of Kazakhstan’s geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from its ambiguous relationship with Russia as well as attempts at presenting itself as being at the front of global sustainable development.