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Euronews
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Report exposes key players spreading climate disinformation
Heavy rainfall, droughts, long winters and unusually hot weather – this has been Europe's difficult reality of recent years. This summer, Greece has experienced extreme heat waves, while Portugal and Spain are struggling with fires. Scientists agree that human activity has a significant impact on the current climate. However, climate denialism and related disinformation narratives have found an effective and convenient niche in the digital landscape virtually everywhere in the world. The latest report by the International Panel on Information Environment (IPIE) identifies several key actors in disinformation narratives. Its authors highlight several entities, primarily individuals associated with representatives of the oil industry, politicians and right-wing circles, as well as certain countries, such as Russia. Climate disinformation is also moving away from so-called "hard climate denialism'", Anna Siewiorek, an expert on climate communication and project management at the Climate&Strategy Foundation, says in an interview with Euronews. In its place, more subtle but equally effective disinformation strategies are emerging. Szymon Bujalski, a journalist for the websites 'Ziemia na Rozdrożu' and 'Nauka o Klimacie', claims that disinformation is even being used by government representatives themselves. Where is climate misinformation coming from? The report analysed 300 studies on climate disinformation over the last decade. Based on these studies, several key figures responsible for spreading misinformation were identified: These entities, listed on the basis of the analysed studies, use separate disinformation strategies. Disinformation strategies in climate narratives As the report indicates, entities responsible for disinformation use several types of narratives. For example, it outlines how fossil fuel companies spread "three characteristic narratives to deny or obscure the fact that climate change is a problem: ideological denial of its root causes, greenwashing, and reification of the status quo as a necessity". Other strategies are used by right-wing politicians, who most often emphasise questioning the effectiveness, costs and fairness of climate solutions. However, as the authors of the report write, the analysed content shows that parties in different countries talk about climate change in slightly different ways. The German party AfD would rather "emphasise complete denial of climate change", while in France, NR "sought an opportunistic approach, changing its position in different situations and relying on the terminology of 'sovereignty' to link climate change issues and climate action (or lack thereof) to national culture". The authors point out, although the discourses on climate change differed in detail, the parties' common rhetoric generally glorified 'the past of local, rural lifestyles.' Anna Siewiorek says the same trends can be seen in Poland. "In Poland, as indicated by the latest report of the International Panel on the Information Environment, we are seeing a clear departure from so-called hard climate denialism, i.e. simply denying the existence of climate change or its anthropogenic nature," she says. "In its place, more subtle but equally effective disinformation strategies have emerged that undermine the sense, effectiveness and purpose of actions taken in response to the climate crisis." Siewiorek argues that in the current space, we are seeing climate policy being presented as a threat to economic security and national identity. "In this view, the European Union is portrayed as an external force imposing unfavourable solutions on Poland, and the energy transition is equated with rising energy prices and system instability." The report also describes Donald Trump as a separate disinformation actor, who is known for spreading the narrative of climate change as a 'big hoax' for political purposes. According to experts, Poland has been the target of targeted disinformation using climate falsehoods for some time. "The Polish Disinformation Team, operating under the Ministry of Justice, indicated as early as the beginning of 2025 that the Russian Federation and Belarus were conducting a coordinated disinformation campaign in Poland, referred to as cognitive warfare," Siewiorek explains. "Its aim is to weaken public support for the energy transition and manipulate the message about EU climate and energy policies." Mining regions are more likely to accept anti-climate narratives The report highlights how certain regions, particularly coal-dependent mining communities, are more susceptible to climate denialism. Its authors point out that a common strategy is to question the credibility of science and institutions, suggesting conspiracies or mistakes by scientists. Another strategy is the mass dissemination of content that amplifies sceptical sentiments on a large scale, for example, on social media. According to research, around 25 per cent of this type of content is generated by bots. The report also mentions a strategy called "dual deception" – a combination of denying climate science and greenwashing. In this case, companies that declare their ecological activities are still dependent on fossil fuels. A 2023 report by the Pole Dialogue Foundation, supported by the European Climate Foundation, found anti-climate narratives prevalent across Poland. Acceptance of such narratives was particularly strong in coal regions, where residents expressed beliefs like: 'Poland can't afford to abandon coal,' 'politicians will never take climate action seriously,' and 'the only hope lies in technological progress'. This approach is influenced, among other things, by the closure of mines in areas where coal extraction has shaped local identity and economy for centuries. As the research shows, disinformation messages most often appeal to emotions – more emotional messages are the most convincing, whereas the truthfulness of the information is of secondary importance. 'Climate denialism is effective for two reasons' Despite the weakening of 'hard' climate denialism itself, this disinformation strategy still has its supporters. "Climate denialism is so effective for two reasons," says journalist Szymon Bujalski. "Firstly, it no longer consists of questioning the very fact of climate change, but rather the impact of humans, and above all, questioning the proposed solutions. "Secondly, these slogans are surprisingly effective because, although theoretically they are backed by the appearance of argumentation, in practice they appeal to emotions. In a world focused on ever-increasing emotions and polarisation – from social media, through traditional media, to political discussion – such content has an easier path to going viral." He claims that in Poland, these narratives are no longer created only by Russia, but also by the Polish political class. "And since power is the most important thing, defending or gaining it is a priority for politicians," he says. "That is why disinformation is now used not only by right-wing parties, but also by government representatives themselves."
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Climate Change Deniers Are Switching Tactics
Coal-fired power station with smoking chimneys. Climate misinformation has shifted focus, moving away from denying that climate change is happening, and instead working to cast doubt on proposed solutions. An analysis of thousands of academic papers on climate misinformation published over the last ten years by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) has revealed that complete denialism is on the wane. However, it showed, misinformation is rife when it comes to the effectiveness, costs or fairness of mitigation measures. Fossil fuel companies, along with associated political groups and think tanks, are carrying out sophisticated campaigns that sow doubt about climate solutions, the research found. Key targets include political leaders, civil servants and regulatory agencies, in efforts to delay climate policy, with automated and coordinated bots playing a central role. "Climate misinformation is being amplified by institutions with the power to shape narratives and suppress inconvenient truths", said Dr Ece Elbeyi, lead author of the report. "As long as these actors continue to manipulate the flow of information, the prospects for effective and equitable climate action will remain dangerously out of reach." The fossil fuel industry, said the report, has been denying the reality of climate change, denying or distorting scientific facts, while also casting doubt on proposed solutions. Meanwhile, other business sectors have been shifting to the same tactics. While, for example, American electric utility companies were primarily denying or sowing doubt about climate change between 1990 and 2000, they are now obstructing and delaying solutions, while trying to shift the responsibility for climate change to other sectors of society. Researchers have documented extensive organized collaboration between fossil fuel companies, states and political actors. In Europe, meanwhile, studies have found right wing populist parties to be actively working against mitigation measures, with the Swiss People's Party, for example, trying to obstruct the transition to renewable energy, arguing that this imposes an excessive economic burden on the country. And, said the researchers, individual politicians are working to discredit climate solutions too. "Based on a network analysis of 7.3 million tweets, one study identified U.S. president Donald Trump as the key influencer of the network, whose logical fallacies, unfounded claims, and cherry-picking of findings were heavily retweeted by other users", the researchers said. A comparative analysis of the rhetoric of U.S. political parties showed that while Democrats presented scientific facts, Republicans tend to rely on anecdotes and storytelling - both more persuasive and more difficult to refute, they said. Skepticism may be gradually taking precedence over denial globally, with a variety of messages questioning the relevance, feasibility, and effectiveness of potential solutions. Russia, for example, has been labeling EU policies of transitioning to renewable energy sources as "hypocritical' and 'politically motivated,' and even claiming that renewables are harmful to nature. "We are dealing with an information environment that has been deliberately distorted", said Dr Klaus Bruhn Jensen, professor at the University of Copenhagen. "When corporations, governments, and media platforms obscure climate realities, the result is paralysis. Addressing the climate emergency therefore demands not only policy reform, but an unflinching reckoning with systems that spread and sustain falsehoods."
The Verge
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Verge
The new lies spreading about climate change
New strains of misinformation about climate change are spreading, meant to slow the growth of renewable energy needed to fix the problem. Rather than flat-out denying the mountains of evidence that show that humans are causing climate change, more recent talking points aim to mislead people by casting doubt on potential solutions. Renewable energy has started to take off as a more affordable and sustainable alternative to coal, oil, and gas. Fossil fuel industry leaders and their allies — perhaps seeing themselves backed into a corner — have pivoted to more sly ways to keep selling their products and stymy the competition. One of the clearest pictures yet of how this is all going down was just published by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE). 'What emerges is a picture of strategic disruption—carefully designed to appear moderate, reasonable, and data-driven, while quietly obstructing action,' IPIE says in its summary for policymakers. 'Strategic disruption—carefully designed to appear moderate, reasonable, and data-driven, while quietly obstructing action' Delay tactics can be considered the 'new denial,' the report notes. It might manifest as inaccurate claims about renewable energy's impact on the environment, or falsely blaming power outages on renewables. And we're not just talking about trolls on social media — misinformation can stem from even the highest levels of power. The report names President Donald Trump, whose campaign accepted $74 million in contributions from oil and gas interests, as a 'key influencer' when it comes to climate misinformation. Trump was already calling climate change a 'hoax' during his first term in office, and has more recently fixated on stopping any new windmills from being built in the US. Since his inauguration this year, he's attempted to undo progress toward his predecessor's commitment to reach 100 percent carbon-pollution free electricity in the US. He's described wind farms as 'bird cemeter[ies],' even though they're far less deadly to birds in the US than collisions with buildings or vehicles. The president similarly repeats misinformation inaccurately linking whale deaths to offshore wind turbines without any evidence. There are legitimate concerns about where to deploy renewables and how to source materials used in solar panels and turbines, as well as steps that can be taken to minimize damage from mining and building new infrastructure. But like we see with any kind of rumor, kernels of truth can be blown out of proportion or twisted into a lie. 'We are dealing with an information environment that has been deliberately distorted,' Klaus Bruhn Jensen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen and chair of IPIE's Scientific Panel on Information Integrity about Climate Science, said in a June 20 press release. 'When corporations, governments, and media platforms obscure climate realities, the result is paralysis.' The IPIE report synthesizes 300 studies comprising a decade of research on climate misinformation. It was limited to papers written in English, however, and reflects a dearth of investment in studies outside of affluent western countries.
The Hill
19-06-2025
- Science
- The Hill
Misleading information on climate science delaying action: report
Misleading information about the nature of climate change is further complicating and delaying action to fight the environmental issue, according to a new research report. A sprawling report, released this month from the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), found 'powerful actors' like governments, political parties, and corporations are often behind the intentional spreading of inaccurate or misleading narratives about climate science. 'The result is a decline in public trust, diminished policy coordination, and a feedback loop between scientific denialism and political inaction,' the coalition of researchers wrote in the 127-page report. Actors often have an economic or political interest in spreading the misinformation, with frequent groups including the fossil fuel industry, members of the Republican party, lobbies and some nation-states or governments. But it can also include unlikely groups like learning institutions. Researchers noted denial has long threatened the flow of climate science information, but attempts to discredit or delegitimize climate science have started dominating the anti-climate science campaigns. 'When the evidence produced by climate science is disregarded, circumvented or undermined, public trust suffers,' the report stated. Scientific consensus on climate change is also frequently misrepresented in the media, further complicating the information ecosystem, IPIE said. The report noted social media has become 'key public carriers of information about climate change.' Misinformation about severe weather patterns has persisted for years, with conspiracy theories and falsehoods often resurfacing during major weather events like hurricanes or tornadoes. Much of this dialogue takes place on social media, where unvetted or false information can spread to mass amounts of users in seconds. These theories and false information often spark emotional responses, giving actors a chance to set the narrative, disinformation experts previously told The Hill. Researchers outlined four main policy recommendations to curb the flow of misinformation and its impact on climate action. The suggestions included legislation ensuring standardized carbon reporting and labelling, litigation to ensure standards are enforced and the education of policymakers and the public. IPIE is an independent and global science consortium of researchers focused on the world's information environment. The report analyzed 300 publications between 2015 and 2025. To measure the integrity of information, researchers evaluated publications based on markers of accuracy, consistency, reliability and transparency.
