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Journal of Language and Politics: Online-First Articles

Shaping gender policies at the COPs

A critical discourse analysis

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This research delves into gendered climate change issues and their solutions and explores how they have been (re)produced within policymaking at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences of the Parties. By employing Fairclough’s 3D framework of critical discourse analysis, this study examines the latest gender action plan along with its supporting documents and projects. The findings reveal that prevailing discourses on gender prioritise women as key agents in addressing both climate change and its gendered consequences while often relegating Parties and other international stakeholders to ambiguous or supporting roles. Such emphasis on the empowerment and education of women to tackle global climate change issues may overlook the importance of addressing transformative changes to combat societal gender inequalities. These inequalities not only marginalise women in the context of climate change but also impede their involvement in the policymaking endeavours which aim to address it.

Keywords: gender, climate change, COP, critical discourse analysis, environmental policymaking, UNFCCC
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Historical development of gender-focused discussions at the COPs
  • 3.Theory and methodology
  • 4.Analysis and discussion
    • 4.1Text level of Fairclough’s 3D Framework
    • 4.2Discursive practice level of Fairclough’s 3D Framework
      • 4.2.1Women as victims of climate change
      • 4.2.2Women as agents of change
    • 4.3Social practice level of Fairclough’s 3D Framework
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Declaration of competing interest
  • Notes
  • Author queries
  • Bibliography
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