University of Kwazulu-Natal

Can You Trust Climate Information How And Why Powerful Players Are

Bonisiwe Shabane
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can you trust climate information how and why powerful players are

The climate crisis is more urgent than ever, so why is there a disconnect between stated policies and actual practices? Related Topics: Greenwashing Paris Agreement United Nations A first-in-the-nation heating and cooling network in Massachusetts is set to double in size. A New South Wales government-backed renewable energy project has been accused of environmental vandalism after dozens of threatened birds were found in native trees it had cleared. Many now concerned about ability to make living in fast-changing climate after one of worst grain harvests recorded. Full Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen

Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen Klaus Bruhn Jensen receives funding from the European Research Council and is an Affiliate of the International Panel on the Information Environment. Semahat Ece Elbeyi receives funding from the European Research Council and is a Consultant Scientist of the International Panel on the Information Environment. Ten years ago, the world committed itself to keeping global warming well below 2°C (and preferably below 1.5°C) above the pre-industrial era. This would be done by reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2030 and ending all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This was the time of promises, with 195 countries signing up to the legally binding, global treaty on climate change, the Paris Agreement.

The Looming Climate Crisis: A Decade of Disinformation and the Urgent Need for Action Ten years ago, the world united under the Paris Agreement, pledging to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational target of 1.5°C. This landmark accord, signed by 195 countries, aimed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Yet, a decade later, the climate crisis has intensified, with the first 12-month period exceeding the 1.5°C threshold occurring between February 2023 and January 2024. This alarming trend, exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern, underscores a stark disconnect between global climate commitments and the reality of escalating emissions. The urgency of the situation demands immediate action, yet progress is hampered by a pervasive wave of climate misinformation and disinformation.

A comprehensive review of 300 scientific studies, conducted between 2015 and 2025, reveals a disturbing trend: the deliberate spread of misleading information is obstructing and delaying effective responses to the climate crisis. This disinformation campaign, orchestrated by powerful economic and political interests, including fossil fuel companies, certain political parties, governments, and nation-states, aims to undermine public trust in climate science and obstruct the implementation of necessary... These actors often operate through opaque alliances, utilizing well-funded think tanks to spread their deceptive narratives. The public’s access to accurate climate information is crucial for informed decision-making and collective action. Without access to reliable information, effectively addressing the climate crisis and safeguarding the future of our planet becomes an insurmountable challenge. The tactics employed by these disinformation agents have evolved.

Outright denial of climate change has largely been replaced by a more insidious strategy of “strategic skepticism.” This approach downplays the severity of climate change impacts, casting doubt on the urgency of action and... This calculated tactic has delayed crucial mitigation efforts, hindered adaptation strategies, particularly for extreme weather events, and eroded public confidence in science-based solutions. The consequences of this disinformation campaign are far-reaching, impacting both public opinion and policymaking. Conspiracy theories, a common tool of disinformation, further erode trust in climate science and the institutions responsible for translating scientific evidence into policy. The dissemination of climate misinformation transcends traditional media channels. While newspapers and television stations continue to play a role, social media platforms and corporate sustainability reports have emerged as significant conduits for disseminating deceptive narratives.

Greenwashing, the practice of making false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of products or services, is rampant in corporate communications, further obfuscating the truth about climate change. All segments of society are targeted by these disinformation campaigns, but elected officials, civil servants, and other decision-makers are particularly vulnerable. These individuals hold key positions in the communication chains that shape policy decisions, making them prime targets for manipulation through biased policy briefs and lobbying efforts. Ten years ago, the world committed itself to keeping global warming well below 2°C (and preferably below 1.5°C) above the pre-industrial era. This would be done by reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2030 and ending all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This was the time of promises, with 195 countries signing up to the legally binding, global treaty on climate change, the Paris Agreement.

Ten years on, however, the climate crisis is more urgent than ever. According to the United Nations: The first 12-month period to exceed 1.5°C as an average was February 2023–January 2024, boosted by El Niño, when the average temperature worldwide was estimated to be 1.52°C higher than 1850–1900. There’s a disconnect between stated policies and actual practices, and we wanted to find out why. We are media and communication researchers focusing on environmental communication. Recently, we joined a team of 14 researchers who investigated misinformation about climate change for the International Panel on the Information Environment.

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time – but how we talk about it, learn about it, and trust what we hear is just as crucial as the issue... We live in what many call a "post-truth" era – a sociopolitical climate in which objective facts often take a backseat to emotion and personal belief. In this environment, misinformation about climate change can spread rapidly, blurring the line between fact and fiction. Fake news can even mimic legitimate science, making it hard for people to tell real evidence from pseudo-science. The result is an erosion of public trust in scientific expertise. When it comes to climate change, information quality directly influences public trust – and that trust, in turn, shapes whether communities take action or fall prey to confusion and doubt.

Misinformation and disinformation on climate issues don’t just muddy the water; they actively undermine efforts to address the crisis. False or misleading claims about climate science can sow doubt where there should be none, delaying policy responses and polarizing public debate. In fact, a recent global risk report ranked the spread of misinformation alongside climate change itself as one of the greatest risks to society. In a world overflowing with data, accurate climate information has become a foundation for public trust and effective action. This essay will explore why getting the facts right on climate change is so important – from understanding our planet’s limits and the impacts of global warming, to the advances in climate science that... We will also look at how reliable information empowers people and communities to respond to climate change, and how nurturing trust in science can help cut through the noise of the post-truth age.

One way scientists convey the urgency of accurate climate information is through the concept of planetary boundaries. This idea presents nine critical Earth system processes – like climate change, biodiversity, and ocean health – that together define a “safe operating space” for humanity. If human activities push beyond these boundaries, we risk triggering large-scale, potentially irreversible changes in the Earth’s environment. Climate change is one of these key boundaries. In fact, experts have updated the planetary boundaries analysis in 2023 and concluded that six of the nine boundaries have already been transgressed – and the climate change boundary is one of them. In simpler terms, we are pushing the Earth beyond conditions that have sustained human civilization for millennia.

Why does this matter for the general public? Because it highlights that our planet has limits. Crossing these limits carries serious risks. Scientists warn that breaching planetary boundaries increases the chance of “large-scale abrupt or irreversible environmental changes,” meaning things like runaway warming or ecosystem collapse become more likely. These changes might not happen overnight, but each boundary we cross raises the odds of severe impacts on people and the natural systems we depend on. For example, exceeding the climate boundary (by accumulating too much greenhouse gas in the atmosphere) is already driving more extreme weather and shifting climate patterns worldwide.

Other breached boundaries, like biodiversity loss or deforestation, can reduce nature’s resilience, making climate impacts even worse. Accurate information about planetary boundaries and our status relative to them is crucial. It tells us how close to the edge we truly are. It also reinforces an important point: all these Earth systems are interconnected. The science shows that if we solve one problem in isolation (say, climate warming) but ignore others (like land degradation or pollution), we may not succeed. Understanding planetary boundaries through reliable data can thus guide better policy – encouraging a holistic approach to sustainability.

When the public is well-informed about these limits, they are more likely to appreciate the scale of changes needed and to trust scientists’ warnings about crossing dangerous thresholds. In a post-truth milieu, clearly communicated science on planetary boundaries serves as a beacon of truth – grounding discussions in measurable reality, and helping counter the false narrative that “everything is fine” or that... In short, it sets the stage for why we must take climate change (and other environmental issues) seriously, and it underscores why trustworthy scientific information is our best tool for charting a safe path... A Decade of Disinformation: How Misleading Narratives Fuel the Climate Crisis Ten years ago, the world united under the Paris Agreement, pledging to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels. The ambitious goal set a timeline for significant greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

However, a decade later, the climate crisis has intensified, with global temperatures exceeding the 1.5°C threshold for the first time between February 2023 and January 2024. This alarming milestone underscores the growing disconnect between global climate commitments and tangible action, prompting an urgent examination of the factors hindering effective responses to the climate crisis. A recent comprehensive review of over 300 scientific studies, conducted by a team of 14 researchers for the International Panel on the Information Environment, reveals the pervasive influence of climate misinformation and disinformation as... The study highlights a deliberate campaign of misinformation orchestrated by powerful economic and political interests, including fossil fuel companies, certain political parties, governments, and nation states. These actors, often operating through well-funded think tanks, actively disseminate misleading narratives to obstruct and delay effective climate responses. While outright climate denial is becoming less prevalent, it has been replaced by a more insidious form of “strategic skepticism.” This strategy downplays the severity of climate change impacts, casting doubt on established scientific...

This orchestrated misinformation campaign undermines public trust in climate science and the institutions responsible for translating scientific evidence into policy, creating a fertile ground for inaction and hindering progress towards climate goals. This misinformation disseminates through various channels, including both traditional media outlets and social media platforms. Corporate sustainability reports also contribute to the problem, often employing “greenwashing” tactics to present a misleadingly positive image of companies’ environmental performance. The study emphasizes that everyone is susceptible to misinformation, but elected officials, civil servants, and other decision-makers are particularly vulnerable due to their influence on policy formation. Think tanks and lobbyists often target these individuals with biased information, shaping policy decisions and hindering effective climate action. The consequences of climate misinformation are profound, impacting public opinion, policymaking, and ultimately, exacerbating the climate crisis.

Conspiracy theories erode public trust in climate science and the institutions responsible for translating scientific evidence into policy. This erosion of trust results in inaction, delays crucial policy decisions, and ultimately deepens the climate crisis. This underscores the necessity of accessible, accurate climate information for informed decision-making and public engagement with climate action. Over the last two decades, climate change has contributed to instability around the world—bolstering the ranks of terror groups, sparking territorial disputes, and triggering mass migration. It’s no wonder that militaries and international security organizations increasingly see climate change as a formidable national security threat, and that they have in turn taken on greater roles in fighting it. In recent years, new technology has transformed the tools available to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Specifically, artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become a widespread instrument in the climate fight—even as it consumes exceptional amounts of energy and water itself. Today, militaries and nonstate actors, including the United Nations, are leveraging AI to foretell climate-related disasters, optimize energy use, and monitor ecological degradation. Over the last two decades, climate change has contributed to instability around the world—bolstering the ranks of terror groups, sparking territorial disputes, and triggering mass migration. It’s no wonder that militaries and international security organizations increasingly see climate change as a formidable national security threat, and that they have in turn taken on greater roles in fighting it. In recent years, new technology has transformed the tools available to mitigate the effects of climate change. Specifically, artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become a widespread instrument in the climate fight—even as it consumes exceptional amounts of energy and water itself.

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