Global Leaders Call on COP30 to Defend Information Integrity

Over 375 Organizations Call for Global Action Against Climate Disinformation at COP30

A coalition of prominent climate advocates and organizations has released an open letter calling for concrete measures to combat climate disinformation at the upcoming COP30 climate summit. The letter, titled “Climate Action Requires Truth: COP30 Must Codify Information Integrity,” was published during the official thematic day dedicated to information integrity.

The diverse group of signatories, including former diplomats, researchers, and international NGOs, emphasizes that protecting factual information is essential for effective climate action. Their message comes at a time when misleading narratives about climate science and solutions have gained traction across digital platforms.

“This crucial window of opportunity must not be wasted and the fossil fuel industry’s manipulation of public discourse must be stopped,” the letter states, highlighting how coordinated disinformation campaigns are undermining climate policies and delaying the energy transition.

The coalition warns that climate disinformation represents more than just an environmental challenge. It threatens democratic processes, public health initiatives, and global security by distorting facts and promoting confusion. Each delay caused by these false narratives translates into real-world harm, according to the signatories.

Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD), which coordinated the letter, is pushing governments to move beyond symbolic gestures. The coalition calls for verifiable, enforceable mechanisms that hold fossil fuel companies, digital platforms, media organizations, and other influential entities accountable for preventing the spread of climate falsehoods.

Among the high-profile individual signatories are Christiana Figueres, the Costa Rican diplomat who helped architect the Paris Agreement; Kumi Naidoo, South African human rights and climate justice advocate; and Jennifer Morgan, Germany’s Special Envoy for International Climate Action.

Academic experts lending their support include Professor Phil Howard from Oxford University and John Cook, a leading climate communication researcher. Political figures such as former UK Minister Damian Collins and Heidi Hautala, Former Vice President of the European Parliament, have also endorsed the initiative.

The organizational backing is equally impressive, with major global environmental and transparency groups joining the call. Climate Action Network International, 350.org, WWF International, ClientEarth, and the Union of Concerned Scientists are among the organizations supporting the effort. Digital accountability groups like the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Global Disinformation Index, and the People vs Big Tech Coalition have also signed on.

The timing of this initiative reflects growing concerns about the intersection of digital policy and climate action. As COP30 approaches, climate advocates are increasingly focusing on what they see as a critical dimension of global climate governance: the protection of scientific truth in public discourse.

Recent research has documented systematic campaigns to undermine climate science and delay policy action. A 2023 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change specifically identified disinformation as a barrier to climate progress, while studies from organizations like InfluenceMap have tracked millions spent on misleading climate communications by fossil fuel interests.

The coalition’s letter positions information integrity as a determining factor in the success of the upcoming climate negotiations. Without effective measures to protect scientific consensus and factual reporting, signatories argue, the world’s ability to deliver a fair and science-aligned climate transition will be compromised.

As digital platforms continue to struggle with content moderation and as climate policies face increasing public scrutiny, the letter represents a significant push to formalize the role of information integrity in international climate governance frameworks.

The signatories hope their collective voice will influence national delegations to prioritize these issues during the COP30 negotiations, potentially establishing new international norms around climate communication and accountability.