COP30: Twelve Countries Sign Declaration Against Climate Misinformation

Twelve nations have joined forces to combat climate misinformation by signing a groundbreaking declaration at the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, marking a significant step toward protecting the integrity of climate science and public discourse.

Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, and Spain are among the signatories to the new pact, according to the United Nations press office. The declaration establishes concrete measures to identify and expose networks spreading climate misinformation while safeguarding reliable information sources and protecting scientists, journalists, and researchers from persecution and attacks.

“Disinformation fuels political extremism, endangers lives, and can hinder climate negotiations,” warned Frederiko Assiz, COP30 Special Envoy on information integrity. Assiz highlighted how social media platforms exacerbate the problem through algorithmic amplification of false information, creating echo chambers that can distort public understanding of climate science.

The initiative comes at a critical time when climate misinformation has become increasingly sophisticated and widespread. Maria Clara Moraes, another expert involved in the initiative, emphasized the organized nature of these campaigns, stating, “Disinformation campaigns are well organized and supported by powerful forces, including the oil industry.”

Moraes also identified various types of climate misinformation tactics, noting, “One of the most powerful is to claim that it is already too late to do something and that nothing can be done.” This “doomism” approach can be particularly damaging as it promotes inaction and resignation rather than engagement with climate solutions.

The newly launched Global Initiative to Counter Disinformation aims to deconstruct misinformation mechanisms and provide financial support for journalism and research that counters false claims, with a particular focus on Global South countries where resources for such efforts are often limited. Brazil has taken a leading role by committing initial funding of $1 million to support these projects.

The initiative reflects growing concern among climate scientists and policymakers about the impact of misinformation on public understanding and political will to address climate change. Recent studies have shown that organized disinformation campaigns can significantly delay climate action by creating artificial controversy around established science.

COP30, which began in Belém, Brazil, will continue until November 21. The conference opened with a leaders’ summit on November 6-7, though notably absent were high-ranking officials from the United States. This absence follows President Trump’s previous characterization of climate change as “the greatest hoax” in history and his stated intention to prevent what he termed a “green scam” from harming the American economy.

The declaration’s substantive elements establish a framework for more transparent climate communication and aim to reduce misinformation’s influence on critical negotiation processes. Climate experts have long argued that addressing misinformation is essential for effective climate action, as public support for policies depends heavily on accurate understanding of the science.

The signatory nations are expected to implement national strategies to improve climate literacy and support independent fact-checking organizations. They will also work with technology companies to develop better approaches for identifying and reducing the spread of climate misinformation on digital platforms.

This initiative represents one of the first coordinated international efforts specifically targeting climate misinformation, reflecting the growing recognition that information integrity is a critical component of effective climate governance and policy implementation.