UNESCO Warns Climate Misinformation Undermines Global Climate Action

In a decisive move to combat the growing threat of climate change misinformation, UNESCO has called for increased vigilance and coordinated action from journalists, civil society organizations, and community leaders worldwide. The appeal was issued by Jean-Paul Abiaga, UNESCO Abuja Head of Office and Representative, following the recent launch of the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Speaking at a two-day workshop in Lagos focused on digital transformation of climate information ecosystems, Abiaga emphasized the critical need for collective responsibility in addressing climate misinformation. “Addressing misinformation, particularly on climate change, requires the collective strength of journalists, civil society organizations, community leaders, youth groups, religious leaders, traditional institutions, and development actors,” he stated, according to a statement released by the UN Information Centre in Abuja.

The workshop, a collaborative effort between UNESCO’s Abuja Office and the Media Awareness and Information For All Network (MAIN), brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including media practitioners, fact-checkers, academics, and community representatives to address the growing challenge.

Abiaga, represented by Yachat Nuhu, warned that climate-related misinformation continues to undermine scientific consensus and weaken community resilience across the African continent. “We have witnessed how climate-related misinformation has fuelled denial, delayed policy action, eroded trust in scientific evidence, and deepened community vulnerabilities,” he noted, highlighting the alarming reality that “misinformation spreads faster than corrective facts,” creating tangible consequences for communities already facing environmental and socioeconomic pressures.

During the workshop, Oluseyi Soremekun, National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, delivered a presentation examining climate change myths and pathways to behavioral change. He explained that climate misconceptions often stem from misinterpreted scientific data, deliberate distortion, and rapid digital dissemination, which collectively undermine public trust in scientific consensus.

“When individuals believe inaccurate information, they are less likely to support climate-friendly initiatives or adopt sustainable practices,” Soremekun explained, calling for clearer communication of scientific facts and emphasizing the importance of highlighting consensus among climate experts. “By debunking these myths, we can restore trust in science and encourage proactive engagement in climate solutions.”

Samuel Babatunde, Executive Director of SBZ Development Ltd, USA, addressed the critical role of education in building climate resilience. “As education increases, climate change resilience gets stronger,” he noted, establishing a direct correlation between climate literacy and positive outcomes like stronger food systems, reduced emissions, lower displacement rates, and green economic growth.

Professor Jide Jimoh, Chairman of MAIN, explained that the workshop was grounded in Media and Information Literacy principles aimed at bridging the divide between scientific knowledge and cultural perceptions of climate change. He highlighted a critical challenge: in many communities, traditional beliefs shape interpretations of environmental changes, with some attributing extreme weather or agricultural shifts to spiritual forces rather than human-induced climate disruption.

This disconnect, Jimoh noted, fuels skepticism and resistance to scientifically backed climate-resilience efforts. The workshop sought to build trust, counter misinformation, and promote culturally grounded climate literacy that empowers communities to recognize and respond to climate-related impacts on health and livelihoods.

The UNESCO initiative aligns with the recently launched Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, unveiled by the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30 on November 12, 2025. The declaration has been endorsed by 20 countries, including Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, and Sweden, establishing shared international commitments to counter climate-related disinformation and advance evidence-based climate information.

The declaration also urges governments, private sector entities, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and funders to confront the harms caused by disinformation, misinformation, denialism, and targeted attacks on environmental journalists, defenders, scientists, and researchers that impede effective climate action.

As climate misinformation continues to pose significant barriers to global climate action, UNESCO’s call represents a crucial step toward creating resilient information ecosystems that support evidence-based climate policies and community adaptation strategies.