Climate disinformation – who is behind it? Report reveals the role of Russia, oil corporations, and politicians

Not everything we read is true. The International Panel on Information Environment (IPIE) estimates that pervasive climate disinformation erodes public trust and hinders coordinated action. Meanwhile, false climate facts are being spread by governments, political parties, and major corporations to push their own interests.

IPIE report – the first of its kind

The report published by IPIE, titled Facts, Fakes, and Climate Science: Recommendations for Improving Information Integrity about Climate Science, is the first global analysis of how information about climate change, its causes, and its impacts is communicated. According to the authors, who summarized thousands of studies and publications, the main topic of international discussion is no longer just coal – but also the credibility of information.

Climate disinformation takes many forms, from distorting scientific facts to emotional appeals targeting the vulnerabilities of specific social groups. It often appears highly rational, conservative, and data-driven, subtly planting doubt. Its most common aim is to delay climate action that could interfere with economic or political agendas.

Who spreads false information about the climate?

IPIE experts argue that climate disinformation is part of deliberate, coordinated efforts driven by powerful political and economic interests. Chief among them are massive corporations involved in the extraction and processing of oil and natural gas. These are supported by think tanks and PR agencies specializing in creating alternative narratives to gain public approval – for example, the American Heartland Institute.

Also active in spreading false climate information are politicians and their affiliated parties, whose interests rely on fossil fuel extraction, maintaining the social status quo, or attacking pro-environmental opponents. The IPIE report explicitly points to Donald Trump and his administration, while in Europe it highlights parties such as Germany’s AfD, Spain’s VOX, and France’s National Front.

Unfortunately, the media also plays a major role in spreading climate disinformation. Especially harmful are publications generated by bots and unchecked content circulating on social media. The latter is increasingly dominated by Russian troll farms specializing in spreading pseudoscientific narratives.

What does climate disinformation sound like?

Besides outright climate denial – which is becoming increasingly difficult to defend – individuals and organizations spreading false information now focus mainly on downplaying the crisis. Their goal is to convince the public and regional decision-makers that adaptive and mitigation measures are neither necessary nor beneficial.

There is also a growing presence of so-called climate nationalism, which calls for prioritizing national interests over global solidarity for the climate.
Fossil fuel companies eagerly use greenwashing narratives, while some politicians – especially those aligned with industrial interests or skeptical of regulation – question the costs, societal legitimacy, and effectiveness of climate action.

Media content includes both conspiracy theories and references to a glorified, traditional rural lifestyle. Climate disinformation also involves open challenges to scientific findings and the use of individual politicians’ mistakes to discredit entire programs they support.

We must fight climate disinformation

The authors of the report identify four key strategies for countering the effects of false information campaigns. The first is to introduce legal standards for carbon footprint reporting by public institutions and businesses. Combined with transparent product and service labeling, this would help debunk widely spread disinformation.

Second, it should become easier to take legal action against public organizations and private firms engaging in greenwashing or false communication. The next IPIE recommendation is to support information counteroffensives, in which citizen associations and NGOs actively advocate for climate causes.

Finally, the report emphasizes the need to strengthen public competencies in understanding media and scientific messaging. This requires a long-term educational strategy that can help citizens regain trust in accurate information from reliable sources. At Wodne Sprawy, this goal is especially close to our hearts.