Europe Grapples with Deluge of Disinformation Targeting Climate and Energy Policies
WARSAW – Europe is facing an escalating wave of disinformation targeting its environmental, climate, and energy policies, a concerning trend highlighted by Poland’s environment minister, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, during an informal summit of EU climate ministers held in Warsaw. This surge of false narratives, often politically motivated, seeks to undermine public trust in climate action and disrupt the EU’s transition to sustainable energy. The recent power outage in Spain and Portugal served as a stark example, triggering a cascade of conspiracy theories and fabricated reports, further fueling the spread of misinformation.
Hennig-Kloska emphasized the dual nature of this disinformation campaign. A significant portion stems from deliberate and targeted efforts by political adversaries, often leveraging misinformation to sow discord and obstruct progress on crucial environmental initiatives. Simultaneously, unintentional misinformation arises from the complexities of European law and a general lack of public understanding, leading to misinterpretations and the spread of inaccurate information. She cited a seemingly trivial example – last year’s reports that Brussels intended to ban bacon-flavored crisps – to illustrate how easily misinformation can spread and distort public perception, even when the underlying truth (phasing out specific smoke flavorings due to cancer concerns) is far less sensational.
Addressing this challenge requires a coordinated European response, something that has been lacking so far. Hennig-Kloska emphasized that the ministerial discussions had initiated this crucial conversation at the EU Council level. This represents a significant first step toward developing effective countermeasures. The Polish government’s recent report, commissioned from its military counterintelligence service, sheds further light on the extent of this "cognitive war," highlighting the role of Russia and Belarus in funding disinformation campaigns, estimated to cost between $2 and $4 billion annually. While much of this disinformation centers on the war in Ukraine, a significant portion is aimed at undermining green policies and discrediting climate activism.
This disinformation campaign directly impacts Europe’s energy security. As the EU strives to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels by accelerating renewable energy production, disinformation becomes a tool to obstruct this transition. The upcoming Commission roadmap for phasing out Russian fossil fuels by 2027 underscores the urgency of combating these misinformation campaigns. Hennig-Kloska stressed the harmful nature of disinformation, labeling it an action detrimental to the public, designed to delay crucial advancements like Europe’s energy transition.
Climate campaigners share these concerns, highlighting the growing influence of disinformation in Brussels. They argue that this orchestrated wave of misinformation contributes to pushback against critical environmental legislation adopted during European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s first term. Chiara Martinelli, director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, emphasizes the increasing prevalence of disinformation, particularly targeting EU climate and environmental policies, calling it a weapon used to polarize societies and erode trust in democratic institutions.
The ministerial discussions underscored the absence of effective measures to combat disinformation and the urgent need to implement robust counter-strategies. While concrete plans are yet to be formalized, the ministers agreed on the need for discussions with the Commission to map out a comprehensive approach. Hennig-Kloska highlighted the importance of "positive communications" from Brussels, including a significant overhaul of how EU institutions communicate with the public. Simplifying language and adopting a less formal tone are crucial steps in making EU communications more accessible and less susceptible to misinterpretation. This strategic shift in communication, combined with efforts to actively combat disinformation, will be essential in safeguarding Europe’s climate and energy goals against the insidious erosion of public trust.