Exploration of Ecological elements: An Eco linguistic Investigation of climate change Reports in Pakistan

Abstract

This study employs an Eco linguistic perspective to examine the concept of climate change in climate reports. Drawing on Stibbe's model of evaluating language and ecology, the research investigates the framing, assessment, and erasure procedures and their function in uncovering the prevalent ecological ideologies embedded in the portrayal of the ecological crisis in selected news reports. This qualitative study seeks to uncover ecological ideologies embedded in the portrayal of ecological crisis. It also endeavors to determine whether the news under consideration was beneficial, ambivalent, or destructive to the environment. Findings of the study revealed that erasure of the agent (non-human species) is a prevalent feature in the selected reports. Non-appraisal elements are utilized in evaluation to counteract the destructive approach. Furthermore, it is generally seen that messages that are framed negatively tend to have a greater influence on attitudes and behaviors than messages that are framed positively. The framing and appraisal items of reports, however, make up the discourse ambivalent, while the erasure is illustrated as destructive discourses. The findings provide valuable insights for policy makers, media and public in understanding the portrayal of climate change and its impact on environmental attitudes and behaviors.