Mobilizing Climate Action: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Thunberg’s Rhetoric

Authors

  • Swaira Rasool M.Phil Scholar, Celts, University of Gujrat, Gujrat
  • Isra Irshad Lecturer, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat
  • Ghulam Ali Associate Professor, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad

Abstract

The present study aims to critically analyze Greta Thunberg’s 2019 speech “Our House is On Fire,” focusing on the discursive strategies she uses to confront political leaders and mobilize global climate action. It seeks to explore how Thunberg employs language to challenge political leaders and institutions, rally public support, and foster a sense of international solidarity in the fight against climate change. It examines how an entire argument can be built on such a structure that challenges inaction and demands accountability. Based on Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of CDA and Van Dijk’s sociocognitive approach, the study shows how Thunberg’s direct, emotive, and morally charged discourse activates collective consciousness and shapes global narratives on climate justice. This research enhances understanding of rhetoric in environmental activism and highlights the importance of youth-led movements in framing global narratives.

Keywords: Critical Discourse Analysis, Greta Thunberg, Climate Activism, Power Structures, Youth Voice

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Published

2025-08-11

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025): Liberal Journal of Language & Literature Review

Section

Articles