Many Fighting Climate Change Fear They Are Losing The Information War

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 6, 2025, 11:39 PM

many fighting climate change fear they are losing the information war

In recent years, shifting political alliances have turned climate policy into a battlefield. Governments that once championed ambitious green targets are now grappling with internal divisions, election cycles, and competing economic priorities. This volatility makes it difficult to maintain consistent, long‑term strategies needed to curb global warming. Powerful industry groups are leveraging massive lobbying campaigns to influence legislation and public opinion. Fossil‑fuel corporations, automotive manufacturers, and agribusinesses invest heavily in lobbying firms, think tanks, and political action committees to protect their interests. Their efforts often result in watered‑down regulations, delayed implementation dates, and the promotion of “green‑washed” alternatives that fall short of scientific recommendations.

The digital age has amplified the spread of misinformation. Social media platforms, blogs, and fringe news sites circulate misleading statistics, conspiracy theories, and outright falsehoods about climate science. Algorithms that prioritize engagement further amplify sensationalist content, drowning out credible research and expert voices. Activists and scientists now contend with a dual challenge: not only must they push for policy change, but they also have to combat a relentless wave of false narratives. This “information war” erodes public trust, fuels skepticism, and hampers the mobilization of grassroots support essential for large‑scale environmental reforms. To regain the narrative, experts suggest a multi‑pronged approach:

KISS frontman Gene Simmons got behind the White House crackdown on illegal immigration this week — as the star descended ... In the global battle for hearts and minds, sophisticated networks of disinformation pose a serious threat to free societies and their aspirations for a better future. China, Russia, and Iran have funded a global web of news sites, podcasters, media platforms, and influencers to support authoritarianism and perpetuate narratives of Western corruption and decline. As a result, political fringes have gone mainstream, leading to the years-long persistence of patently false narratives about the decisions and policies of democratic states. Disinformation, consisting of intentionally false content, has fostered a broader cesspool of misinformation spread by unwitting actors. If the information space continues to be dominated by America’s adversaries and their partners, nearly all the domestic and foreign policy challenges facing the United States today will likely persist or worsen.

Polls of citizens in free countries repeatedly show that narratives rooted in disinformation are succeeding. A third of Americans do not believe the media should be able to report news without state censorship. Nearly one in five believe the NATO alliance is no longer necessary. And 37 percent do not support the provision of US aid to for the economic development of developing states. At the core of each of these beliefs and many others are disinformation campaigns that overstate the dangers of free speech, distort imbalances among partners in US-led alliances, and misrepresent the costs and benefits... Without a concerted effort to combat these harmful narratives, the United States risks losing the global information war, which will have deleterious effects on its ability to ensure a stable, prosperous, and rules-based global...

To maintain and expand the positive influence of the free world on its own citizens and those in authoritarian and partly free societies, the United States and its partners must play an active role... There is no silver bullet that will guarantee victory in the information battle, but there are four organizing principles that can increase the chance of success. The first is the need to ensure fact-based narratives are clearly and frequently expressed to frame global developments in an accurate manner favorable to the United States and its partners. Often, earnest efforts to correct the record are restrained by poor messaging and muddled public responses. The ties between Moscow and Beijing, for instance, are often heralded by both states as a mutually beneficial partnership among equals. The reality of Russia’s status as a junior partner with an outsized reliance on its neighbor is not raised by the United States and partners often enough.

Concerted international coordination is necessary to call out Chinese, Russian, and Iranian narratives and change public perceptions. Secondly, free societies must harness tools already in existence to expand access to their perspectives. Through press offices, social media accounts, and international gatherings, leaders can elevate their viewpoints above the noise of adversarial misinformation campaigns. Government-owned legacy media, such as the Voice of America and Radio Free Liberty / Radio Europe, have lost funding at a time when some authoritarian systems are experiencing a period of weakness. Russia’s abandonment of the Assad regime in Syria is one of many recent examples of a geopolitical defeat that has been underutilized by the United States in the international court of public opinion. Changes in policies, aggressive lobbying, and the rise of online disinformation have all worked together to weaken global initiatives aimed at addressing the threat.

These factors have created challenges for international cooperation and have hindered progress in finding effective solutions to the problem at hand. The shifting policies of various governments and organizations have made it difficult to establish consistent and coordinated approaches to addressing the threat. As policies change, it becomes harder to maintain a unified front and work towards common goals. This lack of cohesion can lead to confusion and inefficiencies in the response efforts, ultimately undermining the effectiveness of international initiatives. In addition, intense lobbying from various interest groups can further complicate efforts to address the threat. Lobbying efforts can influence decision-makers and sway policies in ways that may not align with the best interests of the global community.

This can create roadblocks to progress and hinder the ability to implement solutions that are truly effective and sustainable. Furthermore, the increase in online disinformation has added another layer of complexity to the situation. False information spread through online channels can distort perceptions, sow confusion, and undermine trust in institutions and experts. This can make it harder to mobilize public support for necessary actions and can impede efforts to build consensus around potential solutions. Overall, the combination of shifting policies, intense lobbying, and increasing online disinformation has created a challenging environment for global efforts to address the threat. These factors have made it harder to achieve meaningful progress and have highlighted the importance of finding ways to overcome these obstacles in order to effectively respond to the challenges at hand.

SOURCE by Lisa Friedman and Steven Lee Myers New York Times When nearly 200 nations signed the 2015 Paris agreement, acknowledging the threat of rising global temperatures and vowing action, many hoped that the era of climate denial was finally over. Ten years later it has roared back, arguably stronger than ever. As delegates wrapped the annual United Nations climate talks last Saturday, those who have campaigned to reduce the use of fossil fuels expressed growing alarm that forces arrayed against them are gaining ground in... “There’s a lot of reality that has hit,” said Steven J.

Milloy, the founder of JunkScience.com, a website that has disputed the scientific consensus on climate change. “People are realizing now that we need fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are here to stay.”… A chilling statistic emerged from a recent survey: over 70% of climate change communicators believe they are losing the information war. This isn’t simply about public opinion; it’s about the very ability to enact meaningful change in the face of a rapidly escalating crisis. As deliberate disinformation campaigns intensify, coupled with increasing threats to environmental journalists, the fight for a fact-based understanding of climate change is entering a dangerous new phase.

The stakes are no longer just about scientific consensus, but about safeguarding the messengers and ensuring the public has access to reliable information. The sources of climate disinformation are multifaceted. While outright denialism has diminished, it’s been replaced by more sophisticated tactics – downplaying the severity of impacts, promoting false solutions, and attacking the credibility of scientists and journalists. A recent study highlighted by Yahoo News revealed decades of “empty words” from major oil companies, demonstrating a pattern of greenwashing and deliberate obfuscation. This isn’t accidental; it’s a calculated effort to delay action and protect vested interests. The proliferation of AI-generated content is further exacerbating the problem, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine reporting and fabricated narratives.

“Did you know?” box: AI-generated disinformation can now create realistic-looking news articles and social media posts in a matter of seconds, significantly amplifying the reach of false information. The consequences of speaking truth to power are becoming increasingly severe. Environmental journalists and defenders are facing escalating threats, including online harassment, physical violence, and even assassination. The signing of the Declaration at COP30, championed by Canada and Peace Brigades International-Canada, represents a crucial step towards recognizing and addressing these dangers. This commitment to proactive policies for the safety of those on the front lines is a vital signal, but implementation will be key. COP30’s embedding of information integrity into climate governance marks a significant shift.

For the first time, international climate negotiations are explicitly acknowledging the importance of combating disinformation and promoting accurate reporting. This includes initiatives to verify information, support independent journalism, and hold perpetrators of disinformation accountable. However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on robust enforcement mechanisms and international cooperation.

Many Fighting Climate Change Fear They Are Losing The Information War

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