University of Kwazulu-Natal

Government Dissemination Of Misinformation Exacerbates Climate Change

Bonisiwe Shabane
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government dissemination of misinformation exacerbates climate change

Governments Spreading Misinformation to Fuel Climate Denial and Inaction: A Deep Dive into the Study’s Findings and Implications A groundbreaking new study has revealed a disturbing trend: governments worldwide are actively engaging in the spread of misinformation to undermine public trust in climate science and obstruct meaningful action on climate change. This alarming revelation sheds light on the deliberate efforts of certain political actors to manipulate public opinion and perpetuate climate denial, hindering progress towards a sustainable future. Researchers meticulously analyzed government communications, policy documents, and public statements across multiple countries, uncovering a pattern of deceptive tactics employed to downplay the severity of the climate crisis, discredit scientific consensus, and promote inaction. The study’s findings highlight a range of misinformation strategies employed by governments. These include cherry-picking data to create a false narrative of uncertainty surrounding climate change, exaggerating the economic costs of climate action, and promoting conspiracy theories that portray climate science as a hoax.

Researchers also identified instances of governments suppressing scientific reports, silencing climate scientists, and funding organizations that actively spread climate denial propaganda. This systematic dissemination of misinformation has created a climate of confusion and distrust, making it challenging for the public to discern fact from fiction and undermining public support for climate action. The consequences of government-sponsored climate misinformation are far-reaching. By eroding public trust in climate science, these campaigns create a fertile ground for political inaction. Policymakers who prioritize short-term economic gains or cater to powerful fossil fuel interests can exploit this manufactured uncertainty to justify their resistance to climate policies. This inaction has real-world consequences, contributing to escalating greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating extreme weather events, and jeopardizing the health and well-being of communities worldwide.

The study also exposes the disproportionate impact of climate misinformation on vulnerable populations. Marginalized communities, including low-income communities and communities of color, often bear the brunt of climate change impacts and are more susceptible to misinformation campaigns. These communities may lack the resources to access reliable information and are often targeted by misinformation campaigns that exploit existing inequalities. The spread of climate misinformation further exacerbates these inequalities, creating a cycle of vulnerability and injustice. Exploring The Security Risks of Climate Change Home » climate and security » Climate Disinformation, Peace and Security: Good News, Bad News, and Key Questions

As previously covered by the Center for Climate and Security (CCS), the intersection of climate change and misinformation is not only a barrier to science-based climate and energy policy but also a growing challenge... The problem is diverse and intensifying, from extremists and autocratic governments exploiting climate-driven disasters to propagandize, to xenophobic actors mobilizing against climate-driven migrants, to conspiracy theorists and attention economy grifters invoking climate policies in... In recent months, climate mis- and disinformation have received increased research and diplomatic attention. In June, the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) released the first global, systematic review of scientific knowledge on the sources, content, channels, audiences, impacts, and solutions of climate misinformation. The IPIE is the leading scientific body on the information environment. The report catalogues knowledge on climate disinformation’s economically and politically powerful sources, message diversity from “skepticism” to outwardly fringe conspiracy theories, its wide-ranging media channels and audiences, and its perverse impacts on public trust...

It also highlights the gap in climate misinformation research on less wealthy, Global South contexts, with 70 studies on the US alone compared to one for the entire continent of Africa. Meanwhile, in March, Brazil hosted the first Climate Information Integrity Summit as part of the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, which Brazil is co-leading with the United Nations ahead of hosting... The initiative is a first-of-its-kind multilateral state and NGO partnership to fund research and action combating climate-related mis and disinformation. That said, government endorsement so far is limited to Brazil, Chile, Denmark, France, Morocco, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Climate misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information about climate change and climate action that is generally spread without malicious intent. It usually arises from misunderstandings, misinterpretations of data or simply outdated knowledge.

For example, some people might misinterpret short-term weather patterns, like an extended winter season, as evidence against global warming. Despite the absence of intent to deceive, misinformation still contributes to confusion and scepticism about climate science, making it harder for people to access accurate information. Climate disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberately false and fabricated to deceive people about climate change and climate action for political, financial or ideological reasons. It is spread by individuals or organizations with vested interests in denying or downplaying the reality of climate change and its impacts. For instance, fossil fuel companies have been known to fund campaigns that cast doubt on climate science to protect their profits. Disinformation tactics can include cherry-picking data, promoting pseudoscience, or amplifying conspiracy theories.

Unlike misinformation, which can often be corrected through education and better communication, disinformation is more difficult to address and requires targeted efforts to expose and counter the deliberate falsehoods being spread. Both climate misinformation and disinformation undermine public trust in climate science, delay policy responses and polarize public discourse. According to the Global Risk Report 2024, misinformation and disinformation, together with the impacts of the climate and nature crises, are the biggest short-term and long-term risks to human society. Climate misinformation and disinformation come in various forms, each serving different purposes but ultimately hindering climate action. While some outright deny climate change, others seek to delay solutions, mislead the public or promote conspiracy theories that undermine trust in science and institutions. Climate misinformation refers to the spread of inaccurate information about climate change that can arise from human error, while climate disinformation is driven by a deliberate intent to spread knowingly false information.

Regardless of intent, “scientifically misleading information” can have “negative implications for climate policy”, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said. The Global Risks Report 2024 ranked misinformation and disinformation (on all topics) as the biggest short-term risk to human society, and extreme weather events as the top long-term risk, which implies that obscuring the... This is compounded by false information being significantly more likely to be reshared than the truth on social media platforms. Climate misinformation can arise from genuine misunderstanding, drawing conclusions from incomplete information or misinterpreting data. Individuals may inadvertently share misconceptions about climate science, which while not intended to be malicious still contributes to the spread of inaccurate information. Climate disinformation is a more insidious form of misinformation given that its distributors are knowingly sharing falsehoods and may intend to protect their own interests to the detriment of others by doing so.

For example, they may use deceptive tactics to undermine the scientific consensus on climate change or cast doubt on the severity of its impact. In practice, it can be difficult to determine whether or not there is deliberate intent to mislead, especially given the surge in false climate information finding its way onto social media platforms, as identified... from the BBC , Center for Countering Digital Hate and Stop Funding Heat ). Additionally, a post originally created and shared with deceitful motives can unwittingly be circulated further, without harmful intention. Therefore, disinformation can be viewed as a subset of misinformation , whereby all disinformation can be classified as misinformation but not vice versa. One of the oldest climate disinformation narratives is climate denial, which rejects the scientific consensus that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are causing global warming.

Outright denial disputes the existence of climate change, while other forms might claim to question its extent or the severity of its impacts, or the role of human activity in driving it. The stance can be traced back to the late 20th century when scientific evidence began emerging that burning fossil fuels increased carbon dioxide. A concerted effort to sow doubt and confusion about climate change subsequently gained momentum, notably encouraged by the Global Climate Coalition (GCC), a US-based fossil fuel denialist lobbyist group formed in 1989 after the... The GCC opposed the scientific evidence and campaigned against regulations and policies aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions. 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 new UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, Elisa Morgera has focused on information integrity on climate change in her first report.

The report, submitted on July 18, 2024, delves into the critical issue of access to information in the face of the climate crisis. It emphasizes that the right to information is not only fundamental but also essential for informed decision-making and public participation in addressing climate change. The report underscores the importance of information integrity, advocating for quality, trustworthy, and evidence-based information to counter the detrimental effects of misinformation and disinformation. The report emphasizes that the right of access to information is crucial in tackling climate change and protecting human rights. It calls for the proactive dissemination of information by states and businesses and highlights the need for international cooperation to ensure information integrity and accessibility. The report also underscores the importance of combating misinformation and disinformation, particularly in the context of climate change.

It advocates for the protection of climate activists, scientists, and journalists who play a vital role in disseminating information and holding states and businesses accountable. The report concludes by providing recommendations to states, businesses, and the United Nations system to enhance access to information and promote transparency, inclusiveness, and effectiveness in climate action. The report also highlights the dual role of social media and digital platforms in the climate information landscape. While they can be powerful tools for disseminating crucial information and fostering international collaboration, their business models, which often prioritize engagement and profit, contribute to the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The report emphasizes the need for these platforms to take proactive measures to mitigate the risks associated with information manipulation and ensure the dissemination of quality, trustworthy, and evidence-based climate information. The full report can be accessed via this link.

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