Reflections on climate change and new media in Russia: challenges and opportunities and new media

This essay examines how social media (Twitter and LiveJournal blogging platforms) cover climate change issues in Russia. Russia is one of the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters in the world and has become a key player in global climate change politics. At the national level the problem has largely been ignored until a few years ago when the Russian government announced a more defined climate change policy. Traditional mass media coverage of climate change, even though it follows changes in state policy, has substantially increased, y et still falls far behind discussions taking place in other states. This essay investigates whether, due to the reserved approach of traditional media to this environmental topic, social media can become an alternative information channel for climate change debates

Blogging about climate change in Russia: activism, scepticism and conspiracies

The article explores the new media’s role in climate change communication in Russia. By providing an open space for the expression of very diverse points of view, the internet creates a substitute media reality where both climate activists and climate sceptics can question the established discourse. Analysis of 374 entries published on the LiveJournal blogging platform has resulted in the identification of four discursive categories: “conspiracies of climate change,” “climate change impact,” “political games of climate change” and “online (anti-)environmentalism.” Each category demonstrates how the same topic can be framed in very different ways depending on bloggers’ worldview rather than the nature of the discussed environmental problem. The findings also show that the blogs act as “echo-chambers” for both climate deniers and climate activists reinforcing their behold beliefs. Finally, the analysis discovers some parallels with the traditional media coverage in their minimal critique of Russian state policy on climate

The European Union's influence over media discourse on renewable energy sources in Russia

This chapter looks at how renewable energy discourse in Russian media has been influenced by the prolonged and intricate EU-Russia energy relationship that was substantially intensified after the EU’s Eastern Enlargement of 2004. Through the analysis of news articles published by the Internet news agency RIA Novosti over 10 years (2004-2013), it has been concluded that in publications referring to renewable energy sources (RES), the frame of ‘Europeanization’ occupies one third of the studied material. Whenever the EU enters the discussion, renewable energy sources are discussed as a solution in combating environmental degradation, a cause for cooperation, or another way to provide energy security. It is argued that, among other factors, the EU plays a positive role in the popularization of RES in Russian media discourse

Measuring and modeling Russian newspaper coverage of climate change

As a significant emitter of greenhouse gases and a country rich in fossil fuels, Russia plays a crucial role in achieving a comprehensive solution to climate-related challenges. Yet, Russia's official position on climate change has varied considerably since the beginning of global negotiations, with the country playing everything from policy leader to laggard. While there are a number factors that shape domestic policy positions, this study offers a comprehensive investigation of newspaper coverage on climate change in Russia. How have Russian newspapers discussed the issue since the Yeltsin era? We approach this question by compiling the largest data set of Russian newspaper coverage to date, which includes 11,131 climate-related articles from 65 papers over a roughly 35 year period. After introducing a “computer assisted” approach to measure the core themes running through climate change coverage, we statistically evaluate the national- and newspaper-level factors associated with how coverage is framed, focusing attention on 23 high circulation papers over the period from 2000 to 2014. We find that national-level predictors—particularly economic conditions—are highly influential in determining whether climate change is covered and how the issue is framed, while paper-level factors such as the presence of an energy interest and ownership structure also have notable effects. Overall, this study offers a rich data set and useful methods to better understand the drivers of climate communication in Russia

Kazakhstan's climate change policy: reflecting national strength, green economy aspirations and international agenda

This article looks at how Kazakhstan’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels and its political context shape national discourse on climate change. Based on extensive analysis of the country’s strategic documents and expert interviews, we argue that although Kazakhstan’s economy relies on fossil fuels, the government is keen to promote sustainable development to attract international investments and advance its image as a ‘strong state’ for the domestic audience, and as a progressive and reliable partner for the international audience. Whilst there is little evidence of ‘post-colonial’ rhetoric appearing in Kazakhstan’s official climate change discourse, the state’s past is evident in its instrumental approach to environmental issues which in turn translates into inconsistencies in its climate change policy

Responding to climate change in Jordan: understanding institutional developments, political restrictions and economic opportunities

Jordan is one of the world’s most resource-poor, arid and freshwater-stressed countries with climate change aggravating these challenges further. We argue that due to Jordan’s climate change vulnerability and low levels of resilience, as well as its vital role in Middle Eastern politics, it is necessary to examine how climate change policies are approached in the kingdom. Based on a thematic analysis of official climate change policy documentation and elite interviews, we find that climate change problems are portrayed as important in Jordan, but the policymaking and implementation processes face significant challenges. The main predicaments are: the prioritization of short-term political and economic interests, over-reliance on external actors, limited financial, technical and knowledge capacities, and a lack of coordination between the key public sector stakeholders. Furthermore, as with other authoritarian states, Jordan’s ability to respond to climate change is influenced by restrictions stemming from the governing regime’s prioritization of its own survival

The Arctic in the political discourse of Russian leaders: the national pride and economic ambitions

This article explores how Arctic policy is presented in Russian political narratives. This is achieved through the discourse analysis of 109 official documents published within a seven-year timeframe (2008–2015) on the official website of the Russian President. The article argues that Russian leaders emphasise the state’s geographical location and significant contribution to historical exploration and environmental protection of the region to frame Russia as an “Arctic Great Power” which has natural rights to possess and utilise the Arctic’s abundant resources. The logic of “our Arctic, our rules” can justify any necessary sacrifices, and the assertive policy of the state. However, this discursive representation of the Russian Arctic does not correlate with the reality of the country’s current interests in international cooperation and its willingness to “play by the rules”