In an effort to address disinformation campaigns that are delaying and derailing climate action, the Brazilian government, the United Nations (UN) and UNESCO are joining forces to strengthen research and measures to prevent further damage to climate mitigation.
The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change is an important intervention to boost support for urgent climate action at a time when scientists are warning the world is running out of time.
“Countries cannot tackle this problem individually”, said President Lula at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro. “This initiative will bring together countries, international organisations and networks of researchers to support joint efforts to tackle disinformation and promote actions in preparation for COP30 in Brazil.”
Initially discussed in the G20 framework, the Initiative is being established as a dedicated multilateral collaboration among States and international organisations to fund research and action promoting information integrity on climate issues. Aiming to expand the scope of research into climate disinformation and its impacts, the effort will gather evidence from around the world to inform and bolster strategic action, advocacy and communications.
Countries committing to the Initiative will contribute to a UNESCO-administered fund, with a goal of raising an initial USD 10 to 15 million over the next 36 months, to be distributed as grants to non-governmental organisations to support their work to research climate disinformation integrity, develop communication strategies and undertake public awareness campaigns. So far, Chile, Denmark, France, Morocco, the United Kingdom and Sweden have already confirmed participation.
“We must fight the coordinated disinformation campaigns impeding global progress on climate change, ranging from outright denial, to greenwashing, to harassment of climate scientists”, said António Guterres, UN Secretary General. “Through this Initiative, we will work with researchers and partners to strengthen action against climate disinformation.”
The risk posed by climate disinformation has been recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which stated in 2022 that “deliberate undermining of science” was contributing to “misconceptions of scientific consensus, uncertainty, disregarded risk and urgency, and dissent.”