Misinformation and Disinformation around Climate Change: What is the impact and strategies

By Wejuli Junior Mike | Research Assistant, Makerere University.

Climate change is one of humanity’s most urgent and complex challenges in the 21st century. The scientific evidence is clear and overwhelming: human activities, especially burning fossil fuels, are causing global warming and disrupting the Earth’s climate system. The consequences of climate change are already visible and will become more severe and widespread in the future, affecting every aspect of human and natural systems, such as health, food, water, biodiversity, security, and economy.

However, despite the scientific consensus and the observable reality, there is still a significant gap between what the science says and what the public and policymakers understand and do about climate change. One of the main reasons for this gap is the widespread and persistent spread of misinformation and disinformation about climate change.

Misinformation is defined as false or out-of-context information that is presented as fact, regardless of an intent to deceive. Disinformation is defined as misinformation that is intentionally false and intended to deceive or mislead.

The sources and motives of climate mis/disinformation

Climate mis/disinformation can originate from various sources and actors, such as fossil fuel companies, politicians, media outlets, think tanks, lobby groups, bloggers, social media users, and even some scientists. These actors may have different motives and agendas for spreading climate mis/misinformation, such as protecting their economic interests, advancing their ideological or political views, gaining attention or popularity, or simply expressing their opinions or emotions.

Some examples of climate mis/disinformation are:

• Denying that climate change is happening or that it is caused by human activities.
• Claiming that climate change is a hoax, a conspiracy, or a natural cycle.
• Cherry-picking or distorting data or evidence to cast doubt on the scientific consensus or the severity of climate impacts.
• Attacking or discrediting the credibility or integrity of climate scientists or institutions.
• Promoting false or ineffective solutions that are not in line with the Paris Agreement or the best available science.

The impact of climate mis/disinformation

Climate mis/disinformation can have serious and harmful impacts on the public understanding and perception of climate change, as well as on the political and social response to the climate crisis. Some of the impacts are:

• Reducing climate literacy and awareness among the general public and the media.
• Increasing confusion, uncertainty, doubt, apathy, or complacency about climate change and its causes, consequences, and solutions.
• Eroding trust and confidence in climate science and scientists, as well as in the sources and quality of climate information.
• Polarizing and dividing the public and the policymakers along ideological, partisan, or cultural lines, and creating echo chambers or filter bubbles that reinforce existing beliefs and biases.
• Hindering or delaying the adoption and implementation of effective and ambitious climate policies and actions at local, national, and international levels.

The strategies to manage climate mis/disinformation

Climate mis/disinformation is a complex and dynamic problem that requires a multi-faceted and collaborative approach to address it. No single or simple solution can eliminate or prevent climate mis/disinformation, but there are some strategies and best practices that can help to detect, resist, and counter it. Some of the strategies are:

• Educating and empowering the public and the media to recognize and critically evaluate climate information and sources, and to distinguish between facts and opinions, evidence and claims, science and pseudoscience.
• Debunking and correcting climate mis/disinformation with clear, accurate, and timely facts and explanations, and providing alternative narratives that are consistent with the scientific consensus and the reality of climate change.
• Communicating and engaging with the public and the policymakers on climate change effectively and engagingly, using clear and simple language, relevant and relatable examples, positive and hopeful messages, and interactive and participatory methods.
• Building and strengthening trust and collaboration among the climate science community and other stakeholders, such as journalists, educators, civil society, and decision-makers, and creating platforms and networks for sharing and disseminating credible and reliable climate information.
• Holding accountable and challenging the sources and actors of climate mis/disinformation, and advocating for the regulation and enforcement of ethical and professional standards and norms for the production and dissemination of climate information.

In Conclusion: Following the recent COP28, it is essential to combat climate mis/disinformation with evidence-based and solution-oriented communication and education and to foster a culture of trust and cooperation among the climate science community and the wider society.

By doing so, we can bridge the gap between what the science says and what the public and policymakers do, and we can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.