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A surge in climate disinformation threatens to undermine the upcoming UN climate summit in Brazil, with researchers documenting a staggering 267% increase in false information related to COP30 between July and September. More than 14,000 examples of climate misinformation have been identified, according to a new report from the Coalition Against Climate Disinformation (CAAD) and the Observatory for Information Integrity (OII).
Among the concerning examples is an AI-generated video purporting to show the host city of Belem underwater. The OII confirmed that neither the reporter, people, floods, nor city depicted in the widely shared clip actually exist.
The proliferation of such falsehoods comes at a critical moment for global climate action. Despite research indicating that over 80% of people support stronger climate policies, AI-supercharged disinformation is creating a hostile environment for scientific consensus.
“Big Carbon’s spending and Big Tech’s algorithms are preventing us from seeing and hearing one another online. Instead, we’re exposed to one lie after another,” CAAD stated in the report.
The timing is particularly sensitive as U.S. President Donald Trump, representing the world’s largest historical carbon polluter, has launched what experts describe as an unprecedented assault on climate programs and renewable energy initiatives since taking office in January.
Trump has repeatedly used social media to spread misinformation about renewable energy, claiming without evidence that wind turbines cause cancer and kill whales. His executive orders aimed at “unleashing” fossil fuel energy directly contradict scientific consensus on climate change and economic data on renewable energy.
“The Trump administration is employing a well-worn disinformation playbook, resurfacing outright denial tactics that were the fossil fuel industry’s favored approach in the 1980s and 1990s,” said Kathy Mulvey of the Union of Concerned Scientists, comparing the tactics to those used by tobacco companies to obscure health risks.
UN climate summits have long been targeted by fossil fuel interests. Last year’s COP29 in Azerbaijan saw over 1,770 fossil fuel lobbyists granted access, outnumbering all but three country delegations. Research revealed that energy giants Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, and TotalEnergies accounted for 98% of the $5 million spent on climate disinformation ads ahead of COP28 in the UAE.
As concerns mount that the world has already missed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree warming target, a coordinated response to disinformation is emerging. For the first time, the Brazil-led Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change will be officially integrated into the COP30 agenda. This program aims to fund research, investigative journalism, and communication campaigns to counter climate skepticism and promote science-based solutions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the urgency of this effort in November 2024, saying: “We must fight the coordinated disinformation campaigns impeding global progress on climate change, ranging from outright denial to greenwashing to harassment of climate scientists.”
Ece Elbeyi from the Scientific Panel on Information Integrity about Climate Science emphasized the importance of collaboration between researchers and media professionals to combat disinformation, especially when “governments continue to expand fossil fuel production, even while publicly committing to net-zero goals.”
The impact of climate misinformation extends globally. Following Trump’s return to power, instances of unchallenged climate deception in French media tripled during the first eight months of 2025, according to climate NGO QuotaClimat.
The stakes are extraordinarily high. The latest Production Gap Report indicates nations are on track to produce more than double the fossil fuels by 2030 than would be compatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C. If COP30 is to address this misalignment, tackling disinformation must be central to its agenda.
As Eliesio Marubo, an activist and legal counsel for the Union of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil’s Javari Valley, pointedly observed: “I don’t like the term ‘fake news.’ It ends up legitimizing something that isn’t news at all. I prefer to call it what it really is: a lie.”
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22 Comments
The use of AI to create fake videos is a concerning new frontier in disinformation. I hope the summit organizers have robust strategies to identify and debunk such manipulated content.
Agreed. The threat of AI-generated misinformation is only going to grow, so proactive efforts to counter it will be essential.
It’s crucial that the scientific consensus on climate change is not drowned out by disinformation campaigns. I hope the summit can find effective ways to elevate credible voices and factual information.
As someone with a background in energy and commodities, I’m cautiously optimistic that this summit can make real progress, despite the disinformation challenges. Pragmatic solutions will be key.
As someone with a background in the mining and energy sectors, I’m curious to see what practical solutions and commitments emerge from this summit. Responsible, sustainable practices will be key.
As an investor in mining and energy equities, I’ll be closely watching this summit for any policy changes or industry commitments that could impact the sectors I follow. Transparency and accountability will be key.
Absolutely. Any shifts in climate regulations or expectations for the extractive industries could significantly affect shareholder value and future business strategies.
The mining and energy sectors have a major role to play in addressing climate change. I’m curious to see what practical solutions and commitments emerge from this summit, despite the disinformation challenges.
Absolutely. The extractive industries will be critical partners in the transition to renewable energy and sustainable practices. Transparency and accountability will be key.
It’s disheartening to see the 267% increase in climate disinformation. However, I’m hopeful that the summit can still make meaningful progress if the focus remains on science and facts.
Concerning to see the rise in climate disinformation ahead of this important summit. Fact-checking and public awareness will be crucial to counter these falsehoods and uphold scientific consensus on climate change.
You’re right, the use of AI-generated misinformation is especially troubling. We need robust fact-checking and media literacy efforts to cut through the noise.
Given the economic stakes involved, it’s not surprising to see such a surge in climate disinformation. I hope the summit can find ways to elevate the scientific consensus and practical solutions over misinformation.
As an investor in mining and energy equities, I’ll be closely watching this summit for any policy announcements or industry commitments that could impact the sectors I follow.
Good point. Any shifts in climate regulations or expectations for the extractive industries could significantly affect shareholder value and future business strategies.
The use of AI-generated misinformation is a concerning new frontier. I hope the summit organizers have robust strategies to identify and debunk such manipulated content, in order to uphold the scientific consensus.
The proliferation of AI-generated disinformation is deeply concerning. I hope the summit organizers have robust fact-checking and digital forensics capabilities to identify and debunk these manipulated materials.
Agreed. The use of AI to create fake content is a growing threat that requires sophisticated counter-measures. Vigilance will be critical.
It’s disheartening to see the rise in climate disinformation, but I’m hopeful the summit can still make meaningful progress if the focus remains on science and facts. Fact-checking and public awareness will be crucial.
You’re right. Despite the challenges, it’s important that the scientific consensus on climate change is not drowned out by misinformation campaigns.
The mining and energy sectors are ripe targets for climate disinformation, given their economic stakes. I’m curious to see if this summit can forge a path for more responsible, sustainable practices in these industries.
That’s a good point. The vested interests of fossil fuel and mining companies make them vulnerable to spreading misinformation. Constructive dialogue will be essential.