Nations Unite to Combat Climate Misinformation at COP30

Twelve nations have signed the first-ever Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, marking a pivotal moment in the battle against climate disinformation. The agreement, unveiled during the COP30 climate conference, represents a coordinated international effort to protect environmental journalists, scientists, and researchers from harassment while countering false climate narratives.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva set a defiant tone at the conference’s opening session, declaring that the fight for truth has become as crucial as reducing emissions. “COP30 must mark a new defeat for climate denialists,” he stated, underscoring the heightened focus on information integrity at this year’s summit.

The declaration, signed by Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and seven other nations, emerged from the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change—a partnership between Brazil, the UN Department of Global Communications, and UNESCO launched earlier this year.

“Our goal is to create a wave of truth,” said João Brant, Brazil’s Secretary for Digital Policies, emphasizing the urgent need to dismantle networks spreading climate falsehoods.

For the first time in the conference’s history, information integrity has secured a place on the official COP agenda, reflecting growing recognition of disinformation’s threat to climate action. Frederico Assis, COP30’s Special Envoy for Information Integrity, warned of potential interference in climate negotiations.

“Disinformation, driven by obscurantist worldviews, fuels political extremism and puts lives at risk,” Assis told UN News. “There is broad recognition that disinformation can affect and compromise every part of the COP process—diplomatic negotiations, the action agenda, or mobilization and summits. All our efforts will be at risk if we fail to tackle disinformation properly.”

Assis highlighted the role of algorithms in amplifying “conspiratorial and manipulative” content, often using sophisticated tactics to spread false messages. His mandate focuses on keeping information integrity in the public eye while mobilizing leaders across sectors to counter climate misinformation.

Guilherme Canela of UNESCO emphasized that understanding the machinery behind climate disinformation is crucial for developing effective countermeasures.

“We still know very little about what’s behind this. For example, who funds these posts, and why do they spread faster than other types of content? If we don’t understand these mechanisms, it’s very difficult to design effective strategies to combat this phenomenon,” Canela explained.

To address this knowledge gap, the initiative has established the Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change. With initial funding of $1 million from Brazil, the fund has already attracted 447 proposals from nearly 100 countries, with almost two-thirds coming from developing nations.

Maria Clara Moraes, a UN Verified Champion and co-founder of the Marias Verdes platform with over half a million TikTok followers, described the fight against climate disinformation as “completely possible, but also extremely challenging.”

She pointed out that disinformation campaigns are highly organized and often “backed by powerful forces, particularly the fossil fuel industry.” These narratives continually evolve and take new forms.

“There are several types of disinformation. One of the most powerful is saying that it’s too late—that nothing can be done, or that these events like COP30 don’t make a difference,” Moraes noted. “Saying, ‘This isn’t working, it’s too slow, too complex, too frustrating.’ But yes—it’s important. We must constantly reaffirm the value of multilateralism and the importance of spaces like this one.”

Despite these challenges, Moraes sees hope in younger generations. By producing content rooted in science and sustainability, she believes awareness of the climate emergency is growing rapidly. She encourages everyone to create “micro-revolutions” through everyday choices that support climate action and drive systemic change.

The declaration comes at a critical juncture for climate diplomacy, as negotiators work to finalize agreements on emissions reductions, climate finance, and adaptation strategies. Experts note that successful implementation of these agreements depends heavily on public support, which can be undermined by coordinated disinformation campaigns.

As COP30 progresses, the initiative’s proponents hope that confronting climate misinformation head-on will strengthen the foundation for more ambitious and effective climate action worldwide.