Environmental issues in presidential discourse: a critical comparative analysis of a sample of presidents’ speeches at the Cop 27 Climate Change Conference

Refaat,, Dr. Adel; Hassan, Shaima; Omar, Mai; Rajeh, Muhammad

doi:10.21608/ejsc.2024.381523

Environmental issues in presidential discourse: a critical comparative analysis of a sample of presidents’ speeches at the Cop 27 Climate Change Conference

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Information, Menoufia University

² media teacher at the Afro-Asian Graduate Studies Institute, Suez Canal University

³ an assistant lecturer in the Department of Media, Faculty of Arts, Minya University

⁴ a master’s researcher in the Department of Media, Faculty of Arts, Minya University

10.21608/ejsc.2024.381523

Abstract

The current research aimed to conduct a critical analysis of the presidential discourse on environmental issues and climate change through the case of the speeches of the Egyptian and American presidents at the 2022 Climate Summit held in Egypt (COP 27). The researchers followed the “Van Dijk” approach in analyzing the critical discourse studies.
The results revealed that the two speeches agreed in some aspects, including the importance of working to reduce emissions harmful to the climate and the danger of delay in responding to any causes. While the American speech reflected America’s attempt to remain at the helm of power in the world, claiming to make all possible efforts, the Egyptian speech produced messages suggesting the weakness of the influence and capabilities of developing countries in confrontation and that the responsibility lies with the major industrial countries that caused the crisis in the first place.
Both speeches clearly reflected the international tensions and divisions that have emerged in recent years, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine resulting in confrontations, new international alliances, and economic repercussions in the areas of energy and food. This tension and division heralds failure in the confrontation despite the efforts made, so it can be predicted that the world is on the verge of more natural disasters that humans cannot handle and which may change the entire face of life on planet Earth.

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