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Canadian Government Urged to Combat Climate Disinformation as Public Concern Grows
A coalition of advocacy groups is calling on the Canadian federal government to take decisive action against climate-related disinformation, citing its interference with emergency response efforts during recent wildfire crises. In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney and cabinet ministers, the coalition highlighted how false information actively hampered firefighting and evacuation operations across the country.
“While forests, prairies, and communities burned across the country this summer, many online conversations were polluted with disinformation about arson and forest management and wild conspiracy theories,” the coalition stated. These fabricated narratives created tangible obstacles for emergency responders, continuing a troubling pattern observed during other climate disasters including floods and severe storms.
The coalition is specifically urging Ottawa to sign the Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change, an international framework established ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. The initiative aims to systematically expose and dismantle climate disinformation campaigns.
Public opinion strongly favors government intervention, according to recent polling data. Research conducted by the Media Ecosystem Observatory at McGill University found that 82% of Canadians support the federal government joining global information integrity initiatives. An even larger majority—86%—believe governments should require social media platforms to ensure information accuracy during extreme weather events.
Charles-Édouard Têtu, climate and energy analyst at Équiterre, emphasized the broader implications of addressing this issue. “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,” he said in a statement.
The coalition identifies two primary sources fueling the spread of climate misinformation: digital technology companies and fossil fuel interests. “New and longstanding research reveals that Meta, X, and YouTube are actively enabling and profiting from the spread of climate disinformation during extreme weather events,” the letter states. It further points to oil majors, agrichemical companies, plastics manufacturers, and automotive industries as contributors to public confusion on climate issues.
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), one of the letter’s signatories, frames disinformation as a public health concern. “As physicians, we’re left picking up the pieces when climate disinformation costs health and lives,” said CAPE President Dr. Melissa Lem. “During wildfires, floods, and heatwaves, false information spreads faster than facts, leaving people unable to protect themselves.”
Dr. Lem drew parallels between environmental and informational pollution: “Like toxic air and water pollution, information pollution threatens our health and safety. Canadians clearly want our government to tackle this threat.”
The McGill survey revealed broader societal concerns about disinformation beyond climate issues. Approximately 78% of respondents expressed moderate to extreme concern about online climate change disinformation specifically. Even higher percentages worried about misinformation in other sectors: 88% for public health, 81% regarding politicians and public policy, and 81% concerning trade and economic issues.
This push for government intervention comes amid growing recognition of disinformation’s real-world consequences. The coalition’s call to action represents an emerging approach that treats false information as not merely a communication problem but as a tangible threat to public safety, particularly during climate emergencies when accurate information can be a matter of life and death.
As Canada continues to experience more frequent and severe climate disasters, the government’s response to this appeal could set important precedents for how democracies address the intersection of information integrity, public safety, and climate resilience.
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10 Comments
Disinformation spreading during climate disasters is a troubling trend. The Canadian government must address this head-on to protect public safety and ensure emergency responders can do their jobs effectively. Fact-based information should be the priority, not conspiracy theories.
It’s concerning to see how online conspiracy theories are interfering with critical disaster response efforts in Canada. The government needs to take strong action to counter the spread of disinformation and restore public trust in emergency services.
The proposed international framework to combat climate disinformation is a positive step. Consistent, fact-based communication from authorities is essential during crises. Decisive action is needed to address this growing threat.
Disinformation undermining disaster response efforts is a serious issue that demands the Canadian government’s attention. Allowing conspiracy theories to proliferate online and obstruct emergency operations is unacceptable. Robust countermeasures must be implemented swiftly.
It’s alarming to see how conspiracy theories can hinder critical disaster response efforts. Disinformation undermines public trust and diverts attention from the real issues at hand. The Canadian government must take decisive action to combat this growing problem.
I agree, the proposed framework to expose and dismantle climate disinformation is a positive step. Restoring public confidence and enabling effective emergency response should be top priorities.
The spread of climate disinformation during emergencies is deeply concerning. Conspiracy theories should not be allowed to interfere with critical disaster response efforts. The Canadian government must take decisive action to combat this threat and protect public safety.
Signing the Global Initiative on Information Integrity is a prudent step. Fact-based communication from authorities is crucial during crises. Dismantling disinformation networks should be a top priority.
Wildfire crises exacerbated by climate change require urgent, coordinated action. Allowing conspiracy theories to fester online and obstruct disaster response is unacceptable. The Canadian government must take this threat seriously and implement robust countermeasures.
Signing the Global Initiative on Information Integrity is a prudent move. Consistent, fact-based communication is crucial during emergencies. Decisive action to combat disinformation is the responsible path forward.