G20 Leaders Launch Climate Disinformation Initiative

Rituraj Phukan

A new Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change has been launched to tackle the problems of disinformation and denialism, which raises constant impediments for climate action.

The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change was announced at the ongoing G20 Leaders Summit in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The Brazilian government, the United Nations and UNESCO are joining forces to strengthen research and measures to address disinformation campaigns that are delaying and derailing climate action.

G20 Leaders Launch Climate Disinformation Initiative — Climate Misinformation. Image: Powershift

The initiative is an important intervention to boost support for urgent climate action at a time when scientists are warning that the world is running out of time.

It must be mentioned here that the risk posed by disinformation to achieving climate goals has been recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which stated in 2022 that “deliberate undermining of science” was contributing to “misperceptions of the scientific consensus, uncertainty, disregarded risk and urgency, and dissent.”

While initially discussed in the G20 framework, the Initiative is being established as a dedicated multilateral collaboration among States and international organizations to fund research and action promoting information integrity on climate issues.

Aiming to expand the scope and breadth of research into climate disinformation and its impacts, the effort will gather evidence from around the world to inform and bolster strategic action, advocacy and communications.

“We must fight the coordinated disinformation campaigns impeding global progress on climate change, ranging from outright denial to greenwashing to harassment of climate scientists. Through this Initiative, we will work with researchers and partners to strengthen action against climate disinformation,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Countries committing to the Initiative will contribute to a UNESCO-administered fund, with a goal of raising an initial USD 10 to 15 million over the next 36 months, to be distributed as grants to non-governmental organizations to support their work to research climate information integrity, develop communication strategies and undertake public awareness campaigns.

The Initiative responds to the commitment in the Global Digital Compact, adopted by UN Members States in September, which encourages UN entities, in collaboration with Governments and relevant stakeholders, to assess the impact of mis- and disinformation on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We must fight the coordinated disinformation campaigns impeding global progress on climate change, ranging from outright denial to greenwashing to harassment of climate scientists. Through this Initiative, we will work with researchers and partners to strengthen action against climate disinformation,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The UN and UNESCO have become key partners of the Brazilian government in this challenge, and other countries and international organizations aligned with climate goals and commitment to information integrity are now being invited to join.

So far, Chile, Denmark, France, Morocco, the United Kingdom and Sweden have already confirmed participation.

Rituraj Phukan: Founder, Indigenous People’s Climate Justice Forum; Co-Founder, Smily Academy ;National Coordinator for Biodiversity, The Climate Reality Project India; Member, IUCN Wilderness Specialist Group; Commission Member – IUCN WCPA Climate Change, IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation, IUCN WCPA Indigenous People and Protected Areas Specialist Groups, IUCN WCPA South Asia Region and IUCN WCPA-SSC Invasive Alien Species Task Force; Member, International Antarctic Expedition 2013; Climate Force Arctic 2019 ; Ambassador, Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary. Rituraj Phukan is the Climate Editor, Mahabahu.

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