Dossier

Uncovering climate disinformation

Uncover the fight against one of the greatest challenges of our time - climate change

Hurricanes, floods, wildfires - the climate crisis is increasingly felt in everyday life, and extreme weather events threaten lives and safety. But while climate reports sound the alarm, public debate is quieter and the space for climate policy is narrowing. Why are the voices defending fossil fuels gaining power now? What interests are behind this, and how can these networks be countered? We expose the pervasive myths and misinformation campaigns that are hampering our collective efforts to address the urgent climate crisis.This dossier unravels the web of falsehoods obstructing climate action initiatives.

Stay up to date on climate mis/disinformation and the latest developments in the counter-disinformation community with our partner EUDisinfoLab's Climate Clarity Hub.

Check out the work of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's Climate Disinformation Media Fellows.

Watch online events' recordings to help you debunk climate myths, understand fossil fuel strategies, and advance climate action with a positive vision.

Auf Deutsch

Climate Clarity Hub

Info hub

The new Climate Clarity Hub is a platform that consolidates knowledge and expertise on climate mis|disinformation. Developed by EU DisinfoLab and supported by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, it seeks to confront climate pessimism and call for action, sharing knowledge, analysis, content, resources and anecdotes both from an ecological activism perspective and within the counter-disinformation community.

By EU DisinfoLab

Latest content

Study finds climate misinformation lurking in LinkedIn’s trusted environment

Explainer

Digital trust is a trojan horse. For years, LinkedIn has maintained its position as the most trusted digital platform globally. Yet this same trust may be its greatest vulnerability. When we feel safe, our defences drop. And misinformation thrives in these unguarded moments.

By Ira Pragnya Senapati

Flooded with lies: climate infodemic in Valencia

Analysis

Following the worst natural disaster in Spain’s recent history, the country has witnessed an outpour of politically charged conspiracy theories that cast doubt on the government and democratic institutions. While such lies are often created and circulated by a small network, they can quickly spread beyond traditional circles and gain widespread attention. What can be done to stop the spread of disinformation in the wake of catastrophic weather events?

By Florent Marcellesi

Flood of disinformation – Southern Brazil climate emergency aggravated by disinformation

Analysis

In May 2024, Brazilians stood by in astonishment as they witnessed yet another example of a climate emergency: the damage caused by the rains in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state, bordering Uruguay and Argentina. The tragedy has also fostered another phenomenon of our times that is very devastating: disinformation.

By Manoela Vianna

Böll·Europe Podcast #10 | Overheated: how climate misinformation goes viral on social media

Podcast episode

Climate change and disinformation on social media: at the very first sight, these topics may appear unrelated. However, fostering the ecological transition in Europe, requires substantial effort in terms of shaping public discourse.

Platforms' policies on climate change misinformation

Factsheet

This factsheet delves into platforms’ policies on climate change misinformation, focusing on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter and YouTube and their actions are currently in place to limit the impact of such content.

pdf

100% renewable energy in Europe

Dossier

In this dossier with Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe), we put forward an Action Plan for the European Commission to accelerate the transition to 100% renewables in the next EU legislative term.

By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe)

Drowning in disinformation: how homegrown state-sponsored disinformation threatens EU democracy

Dossier

Disinformation can potentially reach a vast audience, largely due to social networks’ recommendation algorithms. Discussions on disinformation in the EU often focus on external state actors such as Russia and China, or on conspiracy theorists and hate groups. Domestic sources of disinformation such as political parties and national governments, however, are often overlooked.

Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change

E-paper

With the increasing deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across society, it is important to understand in which ways AI may accelerate or impede climate progress, and how various stakeholders can guide those developments.

pdf