Climate Disinformation Threatens Global Climate Action, UN Officials Warn
The proliferation of climate disinformation across social media and other channels poses a significant threat to the COP29 climate talks and undermines science-based policy decisions, according to United Nations officials. This deliberate spread of inaccurate information, ranging from outright climate denial and greenwashing to harassment of climate scientists, has been recognized as an urgent threat by the international community. A UN initiative to combat this problem is gaining momentum, with member countries from multiple continents, along with international organizations like the OECD, UNFCCC, and WMO, joining the effort. This initiative stems from the UN’s Global Digital Compact, which encourages nations to assess the impact of mis- and disinformation on global sustainability goals.
The issue of climate disinformation is not new. A 2022 report highlighted a similar threat to the COP27 climate talks in Egypt, where critics argued that the fossil fuel industry exploited disinformation campaigns to impede progress on agreements aimed at reducing fossil fuel production and use. Watchdog groups like the Conscious Advertising Network and Climate Action Against Disinformation have been working to identify and counter the spread of false climate information. The problem has been exacerbated by the actions of individuals like Elon Musk, who, after acquiring Twitter, reinstated accounts previously banned for spreading disinformation, including prominent figures who have publicly denied climate change. This has led to an increase in climate denial content and a decrease in the reach of legitimate climate science information.
The consequences of climate disinformation are far-reaching. It fuels public confusion, potentially influencing election outcomes and hindering international collaboration on climate action. Disinformation campaigns often aim to create doubt and uncertainty about climate science, promoting false narratives that portray climate action as elitist and disconnected from public needs. This can make delegations nervous about negotiations and undermine the scientific consensus that forms the basis of international climate policy. Coupled with greenwashing and the promotion of questionable climate solutions like carbon offsets, disinformation further confuses the public and obstructs progress on climate action.
The UN initiative to combat climate disinformation gained traction in 2021, before COP26 in Glasgow. Both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the European Union have acknowledged the detrimental impact of disinformation on science-based decision-making. The IPCC’s 2022 global climate science assessment specifically highlighted the "deliberate undermining of science" as a contributing factor to misperceptions of scientific consensus, uncertainty, and disregarded risk. Understanding the systemic incentives for spreading disinformation is crucial. Major social media platforms generate revenue from advertising, and sensationalized disinformation, which tends to engage users and increase their time on these platforms, drives up ad revenue.
Combating climate disinformation requires a multi-pronged approach. One key aspect is increasing transparency in the moderation practices and algorithms employed by high-traffic platforms. This does not infringe on free speech but rather allows for greater accountability. Furthermore, supporting media literacy and investing in climate journalism are vital. Well-funded and independent climate journalism plays a crucial role in providing accurate information and countering false narratives. Research into how disinformation spreads is also essential, as this knowledge can inform effective strategies to slow or eliminate its proliferation.
The spread of climate disinformation is not limited to social media platforms. Mainstream media outlets have also been identified as sources of misleading information that contradicts scientific facts. At the COPs themselves, the increasing presence of fossil fuel lobbyists further contributes to the spread of disinformation at the very heart of international climate negotiations. Preliminary research suggests that the June 2024 European Union elections were influenced by disinformation campaigns targeting environmental regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. These campaigns fueled farmer protests, which in turn boosted the electoral prospects of far-right parties often opposed to climate action. Addressing the complex issue of climate disinformation requires a comprehensive strategy involving platform accountability, media literacy initiatives, support for independent journalism, and ongoing research into the dynamics of disinformation campaigns. The international community must work together to ensure that science-based information guides climate policy and that the public is equipped to discern fact from fiction in the face of deliberate misinformation campaigns.