This study aims to explore the discourses during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in 2023 and their impact on the work to fight climate change. COP28 was approached as a case study where twelve speeches performed by world leaders from different countries were selected to be analyzed. By intercepting and processing the content of the speeches, data was collected to be analyzed based on a discourse analysis. The focus of the analysis was to identify the discourses that appeared in the speeches. In the analysis, patterns of discourse were found both within individual speeches and between different speeches. Furthermore, exercises of power were consistently evident in the speeches. The theoretical framework that was used in this study to understand, conceptualize and analyze the content of the speeches consisted of a discourse theory by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, and Michel Foucault's theory of power and Governmentality. After the intercepting and processing of the content of the speeches, two themes were identified that the content was mainly discussed; Financing of climate action, and Responsibility over the climate crisis and implementation of climate action. Through the analysis of the content of the speeches were two distinguished discourses identified. The first discourse was characterized by dissatisfaction and criticism from developing countries towards developed countries for their lack of accountability for their participation in the development of the climate crisis. The criticism was also directed towards the design of the Loss and Damage Fund, and the analysis identified the great need for the fund in regards to the developing countries. The second discourse was characterized by greenwashing and a consistent exercise of power by the developed countries.  The conclusions of the study consist of revealing the Loss and Damage Fund's influence on the developing countries´ action against climate change. The fund's influence can be considered as a form of indirect power. Although the fund is an important and needed incentive, the study questions its superiority in relation to the problematic state of climate action.

This master’s thesis examines aspects of climate change discourse in the news coverage of the climate summit COP28 in the UK’s The Guardian, Germany’s Die Zeit and Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter. Approaching the connection between COP28 and discourse contributes to field of media and climate change as well as climate journalism. By deploying content analysis and critical discourse analysis, my study follows the structure of an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Analysing 138 articles from The Guardian, Die Zeit and Dagens Nyheter about COP28, this thesis offers an overview and an in-depth exploration of summit themes, voices and discourses. Findings suggest a centring on the theme of fossil fuels in connection to a discourse on human related exploitation of resources and emissions as well as environmental damages. A turn to political and scientific authority voices is noticeable and the Global North’s responsibility remains detached from climate action and climate policy.