Uncovering Patterns in Global Environmental Politics: An Exploratory Network Analysis

In the case of many environmental problems, the polluter and those affected are not identical. They often do not even live in the same country and the polluters are difficult to identify directly. This problem is exacerbated by the geographical separation between the polluters, who are often located in economically developed countries, and the regions mainly affected, which are often less developed countries. This constellation makes it difficult to assign responsibility directly and requires a differentiated view of global environmental policy. Against this background, this study explores the global structure of environmental policy by analysing the role and influence of various actors - from local politicians and activists to NGOs and international organizations - in different regions of the world and globally. Particular attention is paid to the identification of actors who, due to their positioning and influence, can act as links between different regions and thematic areas. These actors could play a key role in the development and implementation of solutions to environmental problems. The methodological basis for this analysis is the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT), a comprehensive database that systematically records and analyzes global media reports in over 100 languages. GDELT not only records the frequency and tone of reporting on various events and topics, but also the relationships between these events and the reporting actors. By continuously monitoring the global media landscape, GDELT provides a comprehensive view of global discourses and developments in real time. Utilizing this database enables the construction of a multidimensional network that maps the connections between actors through common themes and geographic mappings in the media. This network is not only a powerful tool to visualize relationships and interactions between different actors, but also allows to capture the complexity and dynamics of global environmental politics. By analyzing networks and thematic focal points in the media, patterns can be identified that provide information about dominant discourses and the most influential actors in environmental policy. The analysis of this network makes it possible to understand and work out the complex patterns of interaction between different actors in environmental policy and thus also which topics and actors dominate in different regions of the world. The study not only provides insights into the structure of global environmental policy, but also identifies key actors and institutions that can play a central role in the formulation and implementation of effective environmental policy measures. By highlighting links and interdependencies between different actors and issue areas, this study can help to develop further research questions through its exploratory approach.