Deciphering Climate Change Discourse Ecolinguistic Insights from CESE Reports

This research delves into the critical role of language in shaping our perception of, and response to, climate change. It highlights the intricacies of environmental discourse and underscores the influence of specific terminology in molding public opinion. The study focuses specifically on the climate change reports issued by the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE). The objective is to scrutinize the language employed in these reports, with a particular emphasis on the selection of words, particularly the utilization of metaphors, and the framing of climate change issues. The ultimate aim is to comprehend how language influences our perception of, and reaction to, climate change. Utilizing an ecolinguistic approach, the metaphor identification procedure (MIP) and framing theories, the chapter scrutinizes data extracted from Reports issued by CESE. Specifically, the reports published by CESE in 2015, 2019, 2020, and 2022 serve as the foundation for this analysis. This methodological approach allows for a comprehensive examination of how metaphors are used in the reports to frame climate change issues. The findings underscore the significance of metaphors, not only in comprehending climate change but also in effectively addressing this pressing issue. The study illuminates the transformative power of language in climate change discourse and underscores the potential of metaphors as a linguistic strategy in advocating sustainable practices. The research concludes with a discussion on the implications of these findings for environmental policy and education. The study underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of language in order to effectively address the pressing issue of climate change.