A New Global Initiative to Stop Disinformation from Blocking Climate Solutions
Our window to avert climate catastrophe is narrowing. The climate crisis is already causing immense suffering around the world. We must rapidly and dramatically cut global emissions, kick our addiction to coal, oil, and gas, and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
We at the UN have been sounding alarm bells and offering solutions for years. But we’re not only battling pollution from emissions. We’re also battling information pollution that is flooding our feeds with conspiracies and lies designed to undermine the transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
This is nothing new. For decades, special interests have invested billions in aggressive lobbying and deceptive advertising to obstruct the energy transition. Harassing climate activists, journalists and scientists, denying irrefutable evidence, and eroding trust in solutions.
Whatever the message, the aim is the same: to lead the public to disengage. In 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that “deliberate undermining of science” was contributing to “misperceptions of the scientific consensus, uncertainty, disregarded risk and urgency, and dissent.”
Today, growing numbers of people are waking up to the harms caused by climate disinformation — and our toxic information ecosystems in general. As awareness grows of the harm this is causing to people and the planet, a global movement for information integrity is gaining momentum.
This month, at the G20 in Rio de Janeiro, we launched an ambitious new initiative, together with the government of Brazil and UNESCO. I was honored to represent the UN at the launch.
The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change is a chance to turn the tide against the forces of inaction and offer possibilities instead.
We will do so on three fronts: First, through convening a global network of partners — all moving in the same direction — to promote facts and solutions to strengthen information integrity around climate.
Second, through investing in research. We need to know more about the origins and targets of climate disinformation and how it is impacting the public. Also to study behavior and communications science to understand public sentiment.
Third, through designing compelling communication responses. We must be more strategic in our advocacy for climate action — not just in what we communicate, but where and how.
Joining us in this work is a wide network of civil society partners and a growing number of governments around the world, including Chile, Denmark, France, Morocco, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Also central to the project is the participation of UN Climate Change (the UNFCCC), the World Meteorological Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
We need an informed and engaged public to build momentum for climate solutions. We don’t have a moment to lose ahead of the crucial COP30 in Brazil next year.
