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A surge in AI-generated climate disinformation is threatening to undermine the upcoming UN climate summit in Brazil, according to a new report released Thursday by the Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) coalition.
The report reveals a troubling 267 percent increase in COP30-related false information between July and September, with researchers documenting more than 14,000 examples of misleading content circulating online.
One particularly striking case involves a fabricated video purporting to show catastrophic flooding in Belém, the Amazonian city set to host the critical climate conference. Researchers from the Observatory for Information Integrity (Oii) determined that “the reporter doesn’t exist, the people don’t exist, the flood doesn’t exist, and the city doesn’t exist” — the entire scene was AI-generated.
Despite being flagged by researchers, TikTok has not removed the video, which fails to disclose its artificial origins. This reflects a concerning pattern of AI-manipulated climate content proliferating across social platforms throughout 2023.
Similar deceptive content has targeted the conference’s host city, with videos suggesting Belém is unsuitable for the event. Investigation revealed one such video was actually filmed in Tbilisi, Georgia, while another repurposed footage from two years ago.
Earlier this year, AFP investigated another instance of AI-driven climate misinformation: a document falsely attributed to Elon Musk’s Grok 3 AI that incorrectly dismissed the credibility of climate models developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading scientific authority on climate science.
The report highlights a significant disconnect between public opinion and perception. Research shows that more than 80 percent of people globally support stronger climate action, with 69 percent indicating they would contribute one percent of their monthly income to fund climate initiatives. Yet both United Nations Environment Assembly participants and the general public drastically underestimate this willingness to act.
“This is the impact of climate disinformation,” CAAD stated in the report. “Big Carbon’s spending and Big Tech’s algorithms are preventing us from seeing and hearing one another online. Instead, we’re exposed to one lie after another.”
The consequences extend beyond public confusion. Carlos Milani, a professor at Rio de Janeiro State University, noted that false narratives can lead to harassment and intimidation of scientists and environmental activists.
“Climate denial in Brazil is pushed most explicitly by far-right figures, a small group of anti-environmentalist activists and ultra-conservative leaders,” Milani explained, highlighting the political dimension of climate misinformation in the host country.
Brazil’s selection as host for COP30 holds particular significance given the Amazon rainforest’s crucial role in global climate regulation and the country’s recent shifts in environmental policy following the return of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has pledged to reverse the deforestation policies of his predecessor.
The spread of climate misinformation presents a challenge to meaningful action at the summit, where nations will evaluate progress on emissions reduction commitments made under the Paris Agreement and negotiate more ambitious climate targets.
In response to these growing concerns, governments and international organizations are beginning to take action. The European Union’s Digital Services Act aims to increase transparency and accountability among platforms and advertisers who may inadvertently amplify false information.
The United Nations has also recognized the severity of the problem, placing information integrity on its agenda for the first time. CAAD researchers view this as a positive development, stating, “We’re finally headed in the right direction.”
As COP30 approaches, the battle against climate disinformation represents a critical front in the broader struggle to address global warming and build consensus around necessary climate policies.
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18 Comments
I’m worried about the impact this could have on public understanding of climate change. If people can’t trust the information they’re seeing, it becomes much harder to have a meaningful, evidence-based dialogue.
Absolutely. Disinformation erodes trust and makes it difficult for policymakers and the public to make informed decisions. Addressing this issue should be a top priority ahead of COP30.
The 267% increase in COP30-related false information is staggering. This level of coordinated misinformation campaigns is deeply concerning and could have serious consequences for the climate summit.
You’re right, the scale of the problem is alarming. It’s crucial that researchers, fact-checkers, and platforms work together to identify and counter these deceptive tactics before they can do real harm.
It’s disheartening to see platforms like TikTok failing to remove this kind of deceptive content. They need to take stronger action to curb the spread of AI-manipulated climate information before it undermines the integrity of the COP30 conference.
Agreed. Social media companies have a responsibility to be more proactive in identifying and removing synthetic media, especially when it relates to high-stakes issues like climate change. Their inaction is unacceptable.
I’m concerned about the potential for this kind of AI-generated misinformation to sow confusion and erode public trust in climate science and policymaking. Rigorous fact-checking and transparency will be crucial going forward.
Agreed. Restoring and maintaining trust in the climate discourse is essential. Proactive measures to identify and debunk synthetic media are vital to ensure COP30 is a meaningful, productive event.
Wow, this is really concerning. AI-generated climate disinformation is a serious threat to the credibility of COP30 and could undermine critical discussions. Fact-checking and content moderation will be crucial to combat this issue.
Agreed, it’s alarming how quickly this kind of misleading content can spread online. Social platforms need to be more proactive in identifying and removing synthetic media before it causes real damage.
A fabricated video purporting to show catastrophic flooding in the host city is a particularly egregious example of AI-generated climate disinformation. This kind of synthetic media is incredibly difficult for the average person to identify as false.
Exactly. The sophistication of these AI-generated fakes is deeply troubling. Educating the public on how to spot synthetic media will be critical in the lead-up to COP30.
This is a worrying development that highlights the urgent need for robust safeguards against AI-driven disinformation, especially in the lead-up to critical climate negotiations like COP30. Ensuring the integrity of these discussions should be a top priority.
Absolutely. The proliferation of this type of synthetic content is a serious threat to the credibility of the climate movement. Concerted action from all stakeholders is required to address this challenge effectively.
The report’s findings on the surge in COP30-related false information are deeply troubling. Policymakers and the public need to be able to trust the information they’re receiving, especially on such a crucial issue.
You make a good point. Undermining the credibility of the COP30 summit could have far-reaching consequences for global climate action. Tackling this problem head-on should be a top priority.
This trend of AI-generated climate disinformation is extremely worrying. It’s critical that fact-checkers, researchers, and platforms work together to stay ahead of these tactics and protect the public discourse.
Absolutely. The integrity of the COP30 conference and the broader climate conversation is at stake. Concerted, collaborative efforts to counter this disinformation are essential.