Mapping Climate Change Communication: A Social Network and Discourse Analysis Approach

Climate change communication increasingly unfolds within digital environments, where social media platforms such as Twitter play a pivotal role in shaping public discourse (Papacharissi, 2015). This study combines Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Discourse Analysis (DA) to explore how climate change is discussed and structured through Twitter interactions. A dataset of tweets mentioning Greta Thunberg and Donald Trump—the two most frequently mentioned figures identified through network centrality measures—was analyzed. Using Gephi software, network properties such as modularity, degree centrality, and graph diameter were evaluated and visualized through the Force Atlas layout. The findings reveal a fragmented but interconnected network structure, with modular clusters aligned with political, activist, and organizational affiliations. Discourse analysis of the tweets highlights contrasting narrative strategies: while Greta Thunberg is framed through language of solidarity, urgency, and mobilization, Donald Trump is predominantly referenced through oppositional and critical discourse. These patterns exemplify the dynamics of connective action in digital environments, where personal engagement drives collective narratives (Bennett & Segerberg, 2012). Overall, the results suggest that Twitter reflects and amplifies emotional and ideological currents within the climate change debate, fostering both polarization and solidarity across different stakeholder communities. This study contributes to understanding the complex interplay between digital communication structures and climate change narratives.