Climate Disinformation Surges 267% Ahead of COP30 in Belem

URGENT UPDATE: A new report reveals a staggering 267% surge in climate disinformation as the world gears up for the crucial COP30 conference, set to take place in Belem, Brazil. Despite overwhelming global support for climate policies—87% of people affirm their belief in climate change action—disinformation campaigns are sowing doubt just ahead of this pivotal event.

The watchdog organization, Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD), found that 14,000 instances of misleading information related to COP30 have proliferated online from July to September 2024. This alarming trend threatens to undermine the scientific consensus on climate change and the urgent need for action.

One striking example includes a fabricated video featuring a fictional reporter in a flooded city, claiming to expose “THE TRUTH ABOUT COP30.” The content, generated by artificial intelligence, misled viewers regarding the realities of climate impacts and the conference itself. This manipulation highlights the increasing sophistication of disinformation tactics aimed at shaping public perception.

As disinformation spreads, notable figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have also fueled skepticism. Trump labeled climate change a “biggest con job” in September, contributing to an environment rife with doubt.

CAAD’s report emphasizes the role of “Big Carbon”—corporations involved in fossil fuel production and large-scale agriculture—in disseminating false narratives. These companies intentionally craft messages that downplay scientific consensus and discourage public demand for climate action. The report states, “Big Carbon’s disinformation is designed to cause ordinary people to underestimate the strength of the scientific consensus on climate change.”

Compounding the issue, tech companies have been criticized for enabling disinformation to flourish without sufficient oversight. Earlier reports indicated that fossil fuel companies spent up to $5 million on disinformation ads during COP28, with major players like Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, and TotalEnergies funding 98% of the ads.

At COP30, the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change will address these challenges for the first time. Jointly launched by the Brazilian government, the United Nations, and UNESCO, it aims to strengthen research and counter disinformation campaigns. During the Leaders Summit on November 6, 2024, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to underscore the critical dangers posed by climate disinformation.

Lula stated, “Extremist forces fabricate fake news to obtain electoral gains and imprison future generations in an outdated model that perpetuates social and economic inequalities and environmental degradation.” Macron echoed these concerns, declaring that “climate disinformation today threatens our democracies, the Paris agenda, and therefore our collective security.”

Recent analyses also reveal that climate disinformation discussions are rampant in conspiracy theory groups on platforms like Telegram, with over 285 mentions of COP30 identified in Brazilian discussions alone. This trend shows the extent to which misinformation permeates social media, complicating public discourse on climate action.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned corporations profiting from disinformation, stating, “Too many corporations are making record profits from climate devastation – with billions spent on lobbying, deceiving the public, and obstructing progress.” He emphasized the need for global solidarity to combat these deceptive practices.

As COP30 approaches, it is imperative for individuals and organizations alike to remain vigilant against the tide of disinformation that threatens to derail critical climate action. The global community must come together to confront these challenges and ensure that the truth about climate change prevails in public discourse.

Stay tuned for more updates as developments unfold leading up to COP30.