How did the top two greenhouse gas emitters depict climate change? A comparative analysis of the Chinese and US media

Abstract

China and the United States are the world’s top two greenhouse gas emitters. However, little is known as to the amount of attention the media in both countries have paid to the issue of climate change, and the ways in which their media framed the issue. To address both queries, this study analyzed the climate change coverage ( N = 9,001) of the Chinese and US media, using a computational approach. Results revealed overall increases of attention to climate change in both countries’ media from 2016 through 2019, whereas the Chinese witnessed a more evident increase after 2018. Moreover, the media in both countries tended to foster a sense of responsibilities rather than confining the issue to an episodic level. Furthermore, the US media highlighted political conflict and the catastrophic consequences of climate change, whereas the Chinese media highlighted public accountability and governance, as well as economic development and competitiveness.

Climate Change as Represented in Corporate Social Responsibility Reports of American and Chinese Energy Giants: A Critical Frame Analysis Perspective

“…Notwithstanding greenwashing, the acknowledgement of business transformation appears to reject climate denialism and skepticism, aligning with prior research on Chinese climate coverage (Su & Hu, 2021). The green growth ideology bears resemblance to the win-win and middle ground discourses (Livesey, 2002a), accentuating the equilibrium between economic development and environmental sustainability.…”

“…No such skepticism or causal interpretation was found in CCSR, consistent with the scarcity of skepticism in Chinese mainstream media (Su & Hu, 2021). Instead of questioning the causes, Chinese media highlighted the domestic climate policies and national contributions to global climate governance (Su & Hu, 2021). Generally, both corpora avoid attributing climate change to their own GHGs to avert reputation damage.…”

Discourse construction of Chinese modernization from the perspective of Malaysian media

“…This selective representation is instrumental in constructing a narrative that aligns with specific ideological or national interests, contributing significantly to the shaping of the nation's image on the global stage. At the heart of this discourse lies the pivotal role of media in shaping perceptions of China's modernization efforts, spotlighting the environmental, economic, and policy narratives that collectively paint a comprehensive picture of the nation's developmental ethos (Yang and Wang, 2023;Su and Hu, 2021;Wu et al, 2022). Particularly in Malaysia, the interplay between media narratives and Chinese modernization emerges as a testament to the deeprooted economic and cultural ties that have historically underpinned Sino-Malaysian relations.…”