Fighting Climate Disinformation on the International Stage

An international campaign fighting climate disinformation launched at COP30 

COP30 — the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference — concluded in Brazil, and for the first time, information integrity was one of the topics discussed, thanks to years of work by the Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) Coalition that Friends of the Earth has incubated since 2018. 

Led by 100+ global organizations, the coalition works to take action against climate misinformation and disinformation. This includes deceptive or misleading content that undermines the existence and threat of climate change, misrepresents scientific data, or greenwashes the work of corporations in the name of profits. This year, the coalition launched the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30.  

The historic declaration marks the first time any state or country has made a formal commitment to fighting climate change disinformation and calls for concrete actions by governments, society, academia and funders to rally against the false algorithmic systems that amplify climate denial, and attacks on environmental advocates, scientists and journalists.  

New research reveals globally, people overwhelmingly want to see large-scale climate action, and nearly 70% would contribute a portion of their monthly income to support it. But disinformation campaigns fueled by big tech and fossil fuel companies continue to work against this.  

These wealthy private corporations push climate disinformation and denialism in the name of profits. Recent work from the CAAD and the Observatory for Information Integrity found a 267% increase in COP30 disinformation during the lead up to the event. By eroding the public’s trust in climate change research and action and reducing access to information, corporations move forward to their own destructive agendas that pollute the planet and harm frontline communities.  

The declaration has initially been endorsed by 18 countries, including; Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay. By endorsing the agreement, these countries are agreeing to promote evidence-based research, information integrity in media, and climate science in all spheres. And while this declaration and launch is only the beginning, it serves as a signal that we will not let disinformation win. “We’re finally headed in the right direction,” CAAD said. 

Taking action is no longer optional, but urgent. Climate-change fueled natural disasters are on the rise, costing millions and destroying communities. At the same time, data produced by Friends of the Earth and partners has shown these events trigger the spread of climate disinformation. Restoring trust in science and climate policies and engaging the public in these efforts is ultimately what will shift the tides on climate change, and we need global commitment for these efforts to succeed.  

Friends of the Earth centered the voices and experiences of those on the frontlines of climate change and pollution at the launch, including the former assistant administrator of FEMA, who oversaw responses to Hurricane Helen and the L.A. wildfires. Disinformation and climate denial are closely tied to the denial of public health science, the denial of human rights, and the erosion of voting rights. We can only fight these efforts by working for global climate justice in unity.