Climate Emergencies: Physicians and Civil Society Groups Warn of Health Risks from Online Misinformation

As COP30 climate talks approach, a new poll reveals that an overwhelming 86% of Canadians want the federal government to take decisive action against climate disinformation, particularly during extreme weather events.

The research, conducted by McGill University’s Media Ecosystem Observatory, comes amid growing concerns about the impact of false information during climate disasters. A coalition of 15 civil society organizations, including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and Équiterre, has responded by urging Ottawa to join the Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change.

This United Nations and UNESCO-backed initiative will be highlighted at the upcoming COP30 conference in November, marking the first time information integrity has received significant attention at global climate talks.

The urgent need for stronger safeguards became evident during Canada’s recent wildfire seasons, when conspiracy theories about arson and forest management spread rapidly online, hampering firefighting efforts and evacuation operations.

“As physicians, we’re left picking up the pieces when climate disinformation costs health and lives,” said Dr. Melissa Lem, president of CAPE. “During wildfires, floods and heatwaves, false information spreads faster than facts, leaving people unable to protect themselves. Like toxic air and water pollution, information pollution threatens our health and safety.”

Beyond supporting government intervention during extreme weather events, the poll revealed broader concerns about climate misinformation among Canadians. Approximately 78% expressed worry about online climate change disinformation, while an equal percentage showed concern about false information circulating during extreme weather events like wildfires and floods.

Additionally, 82% of respondents want Canada to participate in global initiatives aimed at strengthening information integrity on social media platforms.

Charles-Édouard Têtu, climate and energy analyst at Équiterre, drew parallels between current disinformation tactics and historical precedents: “By supporting the fight against climate disinformation, Canada can confront a system that has, for far too long, been free to delay climate action, endanger entire populations, and undermine our collective achievements, hard-won over decades. Like the tobacco industry before it, the fossil fuel industry is ready to burn every last thing we cherish to make a profit, doing so on public health’s back.”

Several nations, including the United Kingdom, Spain, and France, have already committed to the information integrity initiative. By joining, Canada would pledge to develop policies exposing climate disinformation, protect journalists and researchers investigating climate issues, and support informed global climate action.

The consequences of unchecked misinformation have been evident in recent Canadian climate disasters. Dr. Lem shared a concerning observation from this September, when Vancouver experienced the worst air quality of any major global city due to wildfire smoke: “I was alarmed to see people out running and pushing strollers. I wondered how many of them had been misled by disinformation circulating online, which downplays the health risks of wildfire smoke and denies the role of climate change.”

Dr. Joe Vipond, an emergency physician in Calgary and past president of CAPE, emphasized that the spread of misinformation is often strategic rather than accidental: “Bad actors are spreading lies to protect fossil fuel interests and delay the inevitable transition to clean energy. This weakens public resolve at a crucial moment, when we need courageous policy decisions to steer us away from the climate and health crises caused by burning fossil fuels.”

As climate-related emergencies become more frequent and severe across Canada, the intersection of public health, emergency response, and information integrity has emerged as a critical concern. The poll suggests that Canadians recognize this connection and want their government to take a proactive stance in addressing it.

With COP30 approaching, the pressure is mounting on the Canadian government to follow public sentiment and join international efforts to combat climate disinformation, potentially establishing new standards for information integrity during future climate emergencies.