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AI-generated climate disinformation has surged dramatically ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate summit, according to new research that highlights growing concerns about artificial intelligence’s role in spreading falsehoods.
A recent report by the Coalition Against Climate Disinformation (CACD) documents a 267% increase in climate-related misinformation between July and September, with researchers identifying more than 14,000 examples targeting the upcoming climate conference.
The COP30 summit, scheduled to take place in Belem, Brazil, has become a particular focus for disinformation campaigns. One prominent example includes an AI-generated video falsely depicting catastrophic flooding in the Amazonian host city. Despite being completely fabricated, the video gained significant traction on social media platforms.
“The reporter doesn’t exist, the people don’t exist, the flood doesn’t exist, and the city doesn’t exist,” stated the Observatory for Information Integrity in their assessment of the video. Despite researchers flagging the undisclosed AI content to platform moderators, TikTok has reportedly not removed the misleading footage.
Several additional videos have circulated claiming Belem is unsuitable for hosting the UN climate conference. Investigators found these videos incorporated footage from Tbilisi, Georgia, and recycled clips from two years ago to create a false impression of current conditions in the Brazilian city.
The problem extends beyond video manipulation. Earlier this year, AFP investigated a fabricated document falsely attributed to Elon Musk’s Grok 3 AI system that inaccurately dismissed climate models developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
This surge in climate disinformation comes at a critical time for global climate action. Recent research indicates widespread public support for stronger environmental measures, with over 80% of people supporting enhanced climate action. More significantly, 69% of respondents expressed willingness to contribute 1% of their monthly income toward climate initiatives.
However, the report suggests both UN Environment Assembly participants and the general public significantly underestimate this collective willingness to act. CACD attributes this perception gap directly to climate disinformation campaigns.
“This is the impact of climate disinformation,” the Coalition stated. “Big Carbon’s spending and Big Tech’s algorithms are preventing us from seeing and hearing one another online.”
In Brazil, the host country for COP30, the situation is particularly concerning. Carlos Milani, a professor at Rio de Janeiro State University, noted that false narratives can lead to intimidation of scientists and environmental activists.
“Climate denial in Brazil is pushed most explicitly by far-right figures, a small group of anti-environmentalist activists and ultra-conservative leaders,” Milani explained. This creates additional challenges for legitimate climate advocacy in a region that contains the Amazon rainforest, widely considered crucial to global climate regulation.
Governments and international organizations are beginning to respond to these challenges. The European Union’s Digital Services Act represents one regulatory approach, aiming to increase transparency and accountability among digital platforms and advertisers regarding content moderation practices.
The United Nations has also recognized the threat, placing information integrity on its agenda for the first time. This development signals growing institutional awareness of how digital disinformation undermines international climate cooperation.
“We’re finally headed in the right direction,” CACD concluded in their assessment of these regulatory developments, though the scale of AI-generated misinformation continues to outpace current containment efforts.
As COP30 approaches, the battle against climate disinformation highlights a troubling intersection between artificial intelligence capabilities and environmental policy debates, creating new challenges for climate communicators, policymakers, and platform moderators alike.
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8 Comments
As someone who follows the mining and energy sectors, I’m concerned about how this disinformation could impact public perception of critical industries and technologies needed for the clean energy transition. We must be vigilant in calling out and countering these AI-driven falsehoods.
That’s a great point. Misinformation targeting mining, metals, and energy could undermine support for the very resources and innovations we need to tackle climate change. Fact-checking and transparency will be crucial in the lead-up to COP30.
Wow, a 267% increase in climate disinformation? That’s staggering. We can’t let AI be weaponized to sow doubt and confusion about the reality of climate change. Social media platforms need to do more to identify and remove this kind of manipulative content.
This is really concerning. Spreading false information through AI-generated content is extremely dangerous, especially when it relates to critical issues like climate change. We need stronger regulations and oversight to address this growing threat to public discourse.
I have to wonder how much of this AI-generated content is being funded or amplified by bad-faith actors with vested interests in blocking climate action. Digging into the sources and motivations behind this disinformation campaign will be key to stopping its spread.
Absolutely. We can’t ignore the possibility of coordinated efforts by fossil fuel companies, mining firms, or other industries threatened by climate policies. Rigorous investigation and attribution will be essential to exposing and shutting down these deceptive tactics.
I’m glad researchers are shining a light on this issue, but it’s alarming that even flagged misinformation isn’t being taken down promptly. The integrity of information around the COP30 summit is crucial. We can’t let AI-fueled lies undermine global climate efforts.
Agreed. Platforms need to be much more proactive in detecting and removing AI-generated climate disinformation. This isn’t just an academic exercise – it has real-world consequences for policymaking and public understanding.