BRICS: Building Blocs in a Changing World: A Decade of Environmental Discourse: How BRICS Frames Ecological Sustainability 2014–2024

BRICS: Building Blocs in a Changing World: A Decade of Environmental Discourse: How BRICS Frames Ecological Sustainability 2014–2024
Author: Olivia Linderoth
Degree: : Master’s Thesis, Political Science
Date: 2025
Institution: Uppsala University, Sweden
 

This thesis examines how BRICS and BRICS+ summit statements from 2014 to 2024 frame ecological sustainability. While BRICS’ economic role has been widely studied, limited research has applied discourse analysis to its environmental communication. Using a framework based on three environmental discourses—economic rationalism, sustainable development, and ecological modernization—alongside the “What’s the problem represented to be” approach, the study analyzes the evolution of sustainability discourse in official summit statements.

Findings show that economic rationalism consistently dominates the discourse, emphasizing economic growth and efficiency. However, sustainable development and ecological modernization appear intermittently, reflecting selective adoption of environmental priorities. The thesis also identifies the “securitization” of climate change in recent summit statements, framing it as a geopolitical and security issue.

The study highlights BRICS’ dual role as both a participant in and a challenger to the global order, demonstrating that its engagement with ecological sustainability is intertwined with economic and geopolitical considerations. By applying discourse analysis to summit communications, this research offers insights into the strategies through which BRICS frames environmental issues in a complex global context.