From Energy Giant to Ecological Partner: Discursive Strategies and Semantic Prosody in the Construction of Russia’s Climate Image

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Introduction

In recent years, Russia has actively accelerated its engagement in global climate governance. In 2021, the Russian government approved the “2050 Low-Carbon Development Strategy,” enshrining the goal of carbon neutrality within the framework of long-term state policy for the first time. As the world’s fourth-largest emitter of CO₂ and simultaneously the possessor of vast forest reserves — natural carbon sinks — Russia is implementing measures such as legislative protection of the Arctic ecology and energy system reform, thereby strengthening its role as a key player in Eurasian climate policy.

In this context, there is a growing number of publications in Chinese media dedicated to Russia’s climate agenda. Xinhua News, as an influential international outlet, reflects in its materials not only the development of the Chinese-Russian strategic partnership in the environmental sphere but also the configuration of forces within the global environmental discourse. Existing research mainly focuses on analyzing Russian climate policy within the context of international relations or emission data from an ecological perspective; however, the question of how media construct Russia’s “climate identity” through discursive practices remains underexplored.

In this study, a specialized corpus was created based on a sampling of Xinhua publications from 2020 to 2024, retrieved from the Factiva database. Using the AntConc 3.5.9 tool and Fairclough’s (2003) three-dimensional model of critical discourse analysis, a multi-faceted analysis was conducted — at the levels of text, discursive practice, and social context — to examine the mechanisms forming the ecological discourse regarding Russia’s climate policy in Chinese media. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of Russia’s role in the global climate narrative within the context of intercultural communication. 

Literature review

The theory of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), proposed by Fairclough  [1. Р. 17], views discourse as a social practice that not only reflects social reality but also actively participates in constructing social relations and reproducing power structures. The primary objective of this theory lies in revealing the complex interplay between discourse, ideology, and power, aiming to critically analyze how social inequality and relations of dominance are maintained through language.

Methodologically, CDA develops several research approaches, such as  N. Fairclough’s three-dimensional model [2], R. Wodak’s discourse-historical approach [3], T.A. Van Dijk’s socio-cognitive analysis [4], P. Chilton’s discourse space theory [5], and P. Cap’s proximization theory [6]. The present study employs the three-dimensional analysis model proposed by N. Fairclough [2. P. 141], specifically:

Textual Analysis: Focusing on lexical choice, semantic nuances, and grammatical structure to analyze the explicit expression of discourse;

Discursive Practice: Analyzing the processes of text production, distribution, and consumption to reveal the strategic nature of discourse;

Social Practice: Placing discourse within the macro-social context to investigate how it interacts with ideologies and power structures.

As a key sphere for a country’s self-positioning and the formation of its external image, media attracts significant scholarly attention. In international corpus-based studies of media politics, emphasis is placed on gender politics [7], the migration crisis [8; 9], and other topics. In Chinese research, attention is focused on areas such as the “Belt and Road” Initiative [10], diplomatic discourse [11; 12], economic narratives [13], and sports culture [14].

In recent years, with the increasing relevance of global climate governance, research on climate discourse and ecolinguistics has developed rapidly. While corpus-based analysis of climate change has become an important research direction [15; 16], studies examining national climate image through three-dimensional discursive strategies remain insufficient, especially in the context of a systemic critical analysis of climate discourse in non-Western media (e.g., Chinese state media). The present study aims to fill this gap by utilizing Fairclough’s three-dimensional model and news samples from Xinhua News Agency to analyze the mechanisms of climate discourse construction by Chinese media and the factors determining them.

Research Design

This study utilizes the Factiva Dow Jones database to compile a corpus of data from an authoritative Chinese media source—Xinhua News Agency—covering the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024. Xinhua was selected as the source for this research due to its status as one of China’s most authoritative and influential news agencies, providing extensive and in-depth coverage of critical events both domestically and abroad. As a global issue, climate change is actively covered by Xinhua, which not only monitors domestic trends in climate change but also actively reports on the progress of international climate governance efforts—particularly regarding the climate situation in Russia—providing reports characterized by both depth and breadth of coverage.

The year 2020 was chosen as the starting point for data collection because it marked a significant shift in Russian policy. In early 2020, the Russian government published the draft of the “Long-term Strategy for Low-Carbon Economic Development” and the draft of the “National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change.” Subsequently, the Federal Government approved the “National Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change for the First Stage (until 2023),” which clearly defined specific measures for the 2020–2022 period. This marked the beginning of systematic planning for a long-term climate strategy in Russia. Consequently, this study adopts early 2020 as the baseline to examine how Chinese media report on Russia’s climate policy.

Data collection employed a search query combining the terms “climate change” and “Russia,” resulting in a corpus of Chinese climate discourse related to Russia. The data were cleaned and sorted using EmEditor, after which 685 valid texts (totaling 679,459 tokens) were filtered for analysis. For the segmentation of Chinese texts and Part-of-Speech (POS) tagging, the CorpusWordParser tool was utilized. The textual analysis was conducted using the corpus analysis software AntConc 3.5.9.

The research methodology follows a three-stage process: it begins with textual analysis using word frequency and semantic nuances; proceeds to the analysis of discursive practice, covering the processes of text production, distribution, and consumption; and concludes with social analysis at the macro-social level, investigating the factors influencing Chinese media reports on Russia’s climate policy.

The objective of this study is to answer the following three research questions:

1. What topics are addressed in Chinese media materials regarding climate change related to Russia?
2. What is the stance of Chinese media in covering issues of climate change in Russia?
3. What factors influence the themes and positions of Chinese media regarding climate change in Russia?

Results and Discussion

Text Analysis

Word Frequency Analysis. In this study, data were processed using the AntConc 3.5.9 software to conduct a word frequency analysis, from which the 30 most frequently occurring words were selected. Based on their thematic content, these words were classified into five categories. This categorization facilitated the identification of the primary themes within the Chinese media’s climate discourse regarding Russia: international cooperation, economic development, policy measures, ecological protection, and energy structure.

Table 1. High-frequency words related to Russia in the context of climate change 

Category	High-frequency words
International Cooperation	China, international, global, BRICS, world, sides, initiative, Europe
Economic Development	economy, promotion, green, development, trade
Policy Measures	government, policy, strategy, mechanism
Ecological Protection	ecology, construction, Arctic, protection, governance, biology, ocean
Energy Structure	energy, security, technologies, renewable energy, hydrogen energy

Source: compiled by Dongli Feng & Yunsheng Ju.

First and foremost, the frequent appearance of keywords such as “China,” “Russia,” “USA,” and “BRICS countries” indicates Russia’s significant role in global climate governance, as well as bilateral climate cooperation between Russia and China within the framework of the concept of a “Community with a Shared Future.” These words demonstrate not only the attention of Chinese media to climate change issues in Russia but also the active participation of both Russia and China in international climate governance, along with their roles in global climate politics. Mentions of the global scale and BRICS underscore the efforts of both nations to promote multipolar cooperation in combating climate change.

Regarding economic development, words such as “economy,” “promotion,” and “green” point to the significance of the development of Russia’s green economy and its sustainable transformation amidst global efforts to achieve goals of carbon neutrality and carbon peaking. Carbon emissions are closely linked to countries’ energy structures and their economic development strategies. As a major player in the world energy market, Russia exerts significant influence on the global oil and natural gas markets. Within the framework of Sino-Russian cooperation on climate change, China not only aims to reduce carbon emissions but also actively develops joint efforts in the green economy, including carbon trading and trade in clean products. Through technology exchange and cooperation, China hopes to draw upon Russia’s valuable experience in energy transformation and facilitate joint development in renewable and clean energy technologies for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Regarding policy measures, the frequent use of keywords such as “policy” and “government” highlights the constant attention of Chinese media to Russia’s measures and actions in combating climate change. In recent years, Russia has adopted plans to reach peak carbon emission levels in key industries and sectors, as well as a range of supporting measures, constituting a crucial step in the global transformation toward low-carbon development. Russia’s climate policy also serves as an important reference for the development of climate policies in China.

In the field of ecological and environmental protection, words such as “ecology,” “construction,” “Arctic,” and “protection” emphasize that Chinese media cover not only the problem of climate change itself but also Russia’s strategic plans and actions regarding ecological protection. Of particular importance is the National Project “Ecology” implemented by the Russian government, which includes a series of measures and policies aimed at strengthening and improving the ecological situation in Russia. Chinese media also pay attention to Russia’s efforts to preserve marine biodiversity and maintain stability in the Arctic region. Given that Russia possesses vast forest and wetland resources with rich biodiversity, these ecosystems play a key role in the process of carbon sequestration, contributing to mitigating the impact of global climate change.

Regarding the adjustment of the energy structure, high-frequency words such as “technologies,” “renewable energy,” and “hydrogen energy” show the deep attention of Chinese media to the process of energy transformation in Russia. These reports clearly demonstrate how the Russian government prioritizes the diversification of the energy structure and highlight the achievements made in clean energy, such as wind and solar power. Detailed reporting by Chinese media on these issues not only reflects the shared interests of China and Russia in climate governance and energy transformation but also underscores the broad potential for their cooperation in this vital sphere.

Semantic Prosody Analysis. Semantic prosody is a consistent semantic impression that arises from the influence of collocates on a node word [17]. The semantic prosody of a word can be determined by analyzing the characteristics of its collocates, which allows for the distinction between positive and negative prosody [18].

In this study, the word “Russia” is utilized as the node word for analyzing semantic prosody. The 30 most frequently occurring nouns, verbs, and adjectives associated with this keyword are examined to analyze the attitude of Chinese media toward Russia’s climate issues. This facilitates a more accurate understanding of the potential for cooperation between China and Russia in the fields of climate governance and energy transformation. The results of the analysis indicate that Chinese media reports on Russia’s climate issues exhibit a pronounced positive semantic prosody. High-frequency collocates, such as “cooperation” and “development,” confirm this finding.

Table 2. Frequently occurring words collocated with “Russia”

Parts of Speech	High-frequency words
Nouns	China, USA, country, government, relations, cooperation, economy, international, problem, Europe, India, Foreign Minister, strategy, BRICS
Verbs	development, publish, promote, strengthen, support, respond, achieve, provide, depend, conduct
Adjectives	important, common, new, bilateral, main, necessary

 Source: compiled by Dongli Feng & Yunsheng Ju.

The data in Table 2 demonstrate that Chinese media, when covering Russia’s climate issues, utilize high-frequency words exhibiting a clear positive orientation.

An analysis of the high-frequency nouns associated with “Russia” revealed that the majority are names of countries and international organizations, such as “China,” the “USA,” “India,” and “BRICS.” This indicates Chinese media’s attention to multilateral cooperation between China and Russia, as well as the pivotal role of both nations in global climate governance. Frequent words such as “relations,” “Foreign Minister,” and “strategy” further underscore the importance of Russia’s strategic coordination in international climate diplomacy.

Moreover, high-frequency verbs such as “development,” “promotion,” and “strengthening” confirm a positive assessment of Russia’s measures in climate governance. Meanwhile, adjectives like “important,” “common,” and “bilateral” reinforce the strategic significance of Sino-Russian cooperation in the climate sphere, highlighting the high level of consensus and complementary advantages between the two countries regarding this issue. High-frequency words such as “important” and “necessary” further emphasize the imperative of deepening climate cooperation between China and Russia.

Thus, from the perspective of semantic prosody analysis, Chinese media utilize a range of positive semantic elements to systematically construct a positive image of Russia as a reliable partner in climate cooperation.

Analysis of Discursive Practice

According to Fairclough [6], discursive practice encompasses the processes of text production, distribution, and consumption. The analysis of discursive practice involves interpreting the production and dissemination of discourse. This study primarily focuses on the sources of discourse and the modes of its dissemination.

Sources of Discourse. Regarding the sources of discourse, the materials utilized in this study originate from an official media platform—Xinhua News Agency, which publishes news for an international audience. This determines the high level of authority of its language, which strives for objectivity and accuracy. The articles frequently cite official sources, such as government statements, speeches by leaders, reports from international organizations, and expert opinions, thereby reinforcing the credibility and authority of the presented data.

The articles repeatedly reference joint statements by Chinese and Russian leaders on climate cooperation, as well as international documents such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Through this official discursive system, the persuasiveness, objectivity, and reliability of the reporting are enhanced. This renders the constructed image of Russia more receptive to the readership.

Modes of Dissemination. As an authoritative international media outlet, Xinhua exerts significant influence on international public opinion regarding global climate issues. Its system of professional reporting presents Russia’s key role in global climate governance and shapes perceptions within the international community concerning Russian environmental policy.

Through scientifically grounded agenda-setting and professional discourse construction, Xinhua’s reports objectively demonstrate Russia’s significant achievements in the fight against climate change. These materials are grounded in detailed data and authoritative sources, emphasizing Russia’s actual accomplishments in key areas of international climate governance, such as energy transformation and ecological protection. These reports successfully construct the image of Russia as a responsible global player in climate governance.

An analysis of the concordance lines containing the keyword “Russia” and their context revealed that special attention in the reports is paid to Russia’s top-level institutional design in the field of climate governance and innovative measures in the process of green low-carbon transformation, including achievements in the development of clean energy technologies and biodiversity protection. The reports also examine in detail Russia’s unique contribution to the protection of the Arctic ecology, including advanced experience in glacier monitoring and biodiversity conservation.

On the one hand, these materials, based on facts, have enriched international perceptions of Russian ecological practices, effectively strengthening Russia’s role in the global environmental governance agenda and ensuring international recognition of its climate policy and actions. On the other hand, these reports highlight Russia’s constructive role as a significant participant in global climate governance, reinforcing its positive image within the international system of environmental governance.

Analysis of Social Practice

Fairclough’s discourse theory [6] emphasizes that discourse is not merely a representation of social reality but also an active social practice that is not only constrained by a specific social structure but also participates in the formation and transformation of social relations. Based on this premise, the framing of Xinhua’s reporting on Russia’s climate governance is subject to a multitude of interacting factors:

The Guiding Influence of China’s Climate Governance Strategy

As an official authoritative Chinese media outlet, Xinhua ensures that its reports on Russia’s climate issues—in terms of topic selection, narrative stance, and discursive strategies—closely align with China’s political objectives in global climate governance. China’s strategic needs regarding energy transformation and the development of a green and low-carbon economy contribute to Xinhua’s intensified focus on Russian policies. This enables the provision of informational support and recommendations for domestic climate policy formulation.

Russia’s Climate Governance Practice. Given Russia’s status as a global energy power, its climate policy, application of low-carbon technologies, and ecological protection measures directly influence the structure of international climate governance. Xinhua’s reports not only reflect Russia’s policy moves regarding emission reduction commitments and carbon market mechanisms but also, through discursive construction, demonstrate the tangible results of its actions in combating climate change, thereby shaping Russia’s positive role in global environmental governance.

Normative Pressure from the International Climate Governance System. With the deepening of international climate mechanisms, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, the normative frameworks of global climate governance are becoming increasingly reinforced. Xinhua’s reports must take into account the public expectations of the international community regarding climate actions. Consequently, materials concerning Russia emphasize its progress in fulfilling obligations while simultaneously employing discursive strategies to respond in a balanced manner to potential doubts within the international community regarding Russian environmental policy, thereby contributing to the formation of a global consensus on climate governance.

Thus, Xinhua’s reporting on the climate situation in Russia is not merely the transmission of information but a product of discourse formed under the influence of China’s internal political needs, Russian climate governance practice, and international climate norms. This discursive practice serves not only the strategic goals of China’s international communication but also objectively participates in shaping Russia’s image in global climate governance. This multidimensional process of discourse construction reflects the strategic considerations of Chinese media when covering global environmental issues.

 Conclusions

This study employed corpus-assisted Critical Discourse Analysis to explore the construction of Russia’s climate identity in Xinhua News Agency reports (2020–2024). The analysis yields three key insights based on Fairclough’s model.

First, at the textual level, Xinhua utilizes a consistently positive semantic prosody. Through keywords such as “cooperation” and “green development,” the media reframes Russia not merely as a traditional energy exporter but as a proactive participant in global climate governance. Second, regarding discursive practice, the extensive use of intertextuality and authoritative sources legitimizes Russia’s ecological policies, effectively counterbalancing critical Western narratives. Finally, at the level of social practice, this discourse aligns with the strategic imperatives of the Sino-Russian partnership, reflecting shared goals in energy security and multipolar governance.

In conclusion, Chinese media discourse acts as an active agent in international relations. By constructing a constructive national image for Russia, it not only validates Russia’s low-carbon transition but also facilitates deeper bilateral cooperation, offering a vital non-Western perspective in the global climate debate.

About the authors

Dongli Feng

Shandong University

Email: kaqiuha@163.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-3547-2335

PhD in Philology

Jinan, The People’s Republic of China, 200083

Yunsheng Ju

Shanghai International Studies University

Author for correspondence.
Email: zhengzhengjuju@163.com
SPIN-code: 6447-6040
PhD in Philology, Deputy Director of the Russian Research Center 550, Bldg. 2 Dalianxi Road, Shanghai, The People’s Republic of China, 200083

References

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