Addressing Disinformation Challenges in Environmental Policy Making

UN Event Highlights Growing Threat of Environmental Disinformation

Disinformation in environmental policy-making is emerging as one of the world’s most severe global risks, undermining efforts to address climate change, nature loss, and pollution, according to experts at a recent UN event in Geneva.

The gathering brought together international policy experts, researchers, and diplomats to discuss how false and misleading narratives are increasingly shaping public debates on environmental issues and influencing critical policy decisions.

“Misinformation and disinformation continue to rank among the world’s most severe global risks,” noted one participant, referencing the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026, which identifies these threats as the second most significant global risk in the two-year outlook and fourth on a ten-year horizon.

The event comes at a critical time as the United Nations intensifies efforts to counter disinformation globally. In 2021, the UN General Assembly expressed concern about the proliferation of disinformation, prompting the UN Secretary-General to issue a report titled “Countering disinformation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Additionally, the Human Rights Council has tasked its Advisory Committee with conducting a study on disinformation’s impact on human rights, with findings expected at its sixty-first session. The report aims to identify how disinformation affects human rights, particularly regarding environmental and climate matters.

Patrycja Sasnal, Senior Professorial Fellow at the College of Europe and member of the United Nations Human Rights Advisory Committee on Disinformation, was among the featured speakers who shared insights on how disinformation tactics distort scientific evidence and undermine environmental governance.

Swiss representation came from Andrea Zbinden, Senior Policy Advisor and Focal Point for UNEP at the Federal Office for the Environment, while Mexico’s perspective was provided by Miriam G. Medel Garcia, Head of the Environment Team at Mexico’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva.

The scientific community was well-represented with Tobia Spampatti from the Max Planck Institute, Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Gabriel Sigmund, Board Member of the International Panel on Chemical Pollution and Assistant Professor at Wageningen University.

Civil society voices included Rachel Radvany, Environmental Health Campaigner at the Center for International Environmental Law, with Sébastien Duyck from the same organization moderating the discussion.

Beyond identifying problems, the event explored practical solutions. Experts shared strategies to counter disinformation, emphasizing policies that promote transparency, address conflicts of interest, and support evidence-based decision-making. The discussion highlighted how collaborative approaches among governments, scientists, civil society, and international organizations are essential to combat the spread of false information.

The event underscored that disinformation in the environmental sphere goes beyond mere misinformation—it often involves deliberate attempts to mislead the public and policymakers about environmental challenges and potential solutions.

As governments negotiate critical environmental agreements on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution, the integrity of these processes depends increasingly on protecting decision-making from coordinated disinformation campaigns.

“By fostering dialogue among stakeholders, we aim to strengthen collective action against disinformation and safeguard informed environmental governance,” remarked one participant, highlighting the event’s goal to build resilience against false narratives.

The session was livestreamed from the International Environment House in Geneva, enabling global participation in this timely discussion on one of the most pressing challenges facing environmental diplomacy and governance today.