Why countering climate misinformation must be a priority

Discussing the open letter on curbing disinformation published during the COP29 conference, Pallavi Sethi argues governments have a key role to play in creating conditions that mitigate the impacts of false narratives around climate change and action.

COP29 concluded amid widespread criticism over a weak agreement on climate finance, but another shortcoming also demands attention: its failure to address climate mis- and disinformation.

Ahead of COP29, I was joined by over 90 experts and organisations in signing an open letter led by Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD), calling on governments to take urgent action against the escalating threat of climate disinformation. Yet despite the IPCC’s stark warning that misinformation undermines climate action, COP29 chose to sideline the issue by excluding it from its official agenda.

How can we implement meaningful solutions if public trust in science and policy is continuously threatened by a flood of misinformation? Combating climate mis- and disinformation is critical to the success of effective climate policies.

The global threat of climate misinformation

Climate misinformation is a global challenge that undermines action and affects communities worldwide. It distorts the benefits of renewable energy, denies established climate science and fuels confusion. For instance, in Latin America, false narratives have misattributed extreme weather events to false causes. Taiwan has faced coordinated disinformation campaigns that have targeted renewable energy initiatives. In the United States, misinformation continues to circulate about clean energy projects. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, politicians have amplified climate denial and actively opposed climate policies.

When misleading or inaccurate information circulates, it can distort public understanding of climate issues, downplay the urgency of climate action, and discredit climate solutions. Research indicates that climate misinformation can reduce climate literacy and heighten polarisation among the public. The consequences can be far-reaching. Low literacy can hinder public understanding of the climate crisis. It can also weaken public support for ambitious and urgent climate policies. Polarisation exacerbates these challenges by fuelling division and reducing opportunities for collaborative action. When public discourse becomes fragmented, achieving consensus on necessary measures such as transitioning to renewable energy becomes increasingly difficult. Further, it can also risk public backlash against experts or officials promoting climate policies. For instance, in Oxfordshire, UK, county councillors faced abuse and threats after conspiracy theorists falsely labelled a traffic reduction scheme as a “climate lockdown”. Similarly, conspiracy theories have led to US meteorologists receiving death threats merely for doing their work.

The cycle of poor policy and misinformation

Misinformation can severely undermine public policies and, by extension, the democratic process. However, the reverse is equally true: poorly designed policies can fuel the spread of misinformation.

It is widely accepted that effective policy must be grounded in scientific evidence and driven by the needs and concerns of the community. The OECD underscores that evidence-based policy should rely on multiple sources such as data, statistics, rigorous research findings and evaluations. When policies are misaligned with evidence or poorly communicated, they risk creating fertile ground for misinformation.

The consequences of ineffective policies are even greater in complex areas like climate change. For instance, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced widespread criticism for his decision to weaken key net zero policies such as delaying the proposed ban on new petrol and diesel cars and extending the deadline for installing fossil fuel boilers. Mr Sunak defended his decision as “pragmatic,” in that it aimed to avoid placing “unacceptable costs” on British families. Experts, however, argued that the decision was based on a “false argument”. The UK’s independent statutory body, the Climate Change Committee, warned that these delays would likely increase energy bills and motoring costs for households, which directly contradicted Mr Sunak’s justification.

These policy changes not only undermined progress towards climate goals but also fuelled the spread of misinformation. A recent report by CAAD examined the UK’s digital landscape of climate misinformation and analysed over 30,000 posts on X and Facebook. The analysis revealed that Mr Sunak’s decision triggered a particularly large spike in online activity. Many users urged the Government to scrap all net zero policies and some spread false claims that these initiatives were responsible for soaring energy prices.

This is a stark example of how poor policies can amplify misleading narratives and distort public understanding of climate change. Breaking this cycle requires politicians and policymakers to not only base their decisions on rigorous evidence but also communicate those decisions transparently.

Governments must lead the fight against climate misinformation

Misinformation does real-world harm. As demonstrated by the examples above, it not only erodes public support for science-based solutions and delays climate progress but also incites hostility towards climate advocates and experts.

Reducing emissions and advancing climate finance are essential to addressing climate change. However, without a plan to combat climate misinformation, progress on all fronts is at risk.

The United Nations’ latest global initiative to counter climate disinformation, which was announced at the G20 Summit, serves as a powerful example of how international collaboration can prioritise and counter the spread of false narratives. It is the first multilateral collaboration to strengthen action against climate disinformation. Countries confirming their participating include the UK, Chile, Denmark, France, Morocco and Sweden.

Building on this momentum and as pointed out by CAAD, governments must publicly recognise climate mis- and disinformation as a major threat to climate action, adopt a universal definition of climate disinformation, and promote information integrity by holding social media companies accountable.

We cannot afford to let climate misinformation sow division and delay action. The stakes are too high and the window for decisive action is closing. The time to act is now.

A version of this commentary was first published by the LSE Impact Blog on 29 November 2024 under the title ‘By sidelining climate disinformation, COP29 undermines climate action’.