As the world gears up for COP28 in Dubai, an alarming revelation comes to light—there’s not just a climate crisis; there’s an accompanying information crisis. The Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) coalition’s recent report exposes a resurgence in climate change denial and a surge in manipulative tactics by big oil and malicious actors on digital platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram.
Jennie King, Head of Climate Research and Policy at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and CAAD Intelligence Lead, emphasizes the severity of the situation: “On the eve of COP28, the world is grappling with an environmental crisis compounded by an information crisis.” Amidst projections of 2023 being the hottest year on record, a disconcerting rise in climate denialism and viral campaigns rejecting scientific consensus threatens not just public support but also trust in institutions, with potentially violent outcomes.
Understanding the Landscape of Climate Misinformation
Defining Misinformation and Disinformation
To comprehend the scale of the problem, it’s crucial to differentiate between misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation entails false or out-of-context information presented as fact, while disinformation is intentionally false and aimed at deceiving.
CAAD’s investigations shed light on a convergence of efforts by the fossil fuel lobby, state-sponsored PR, online grifters, and commercial disinformers. This unholy alliance is manipulating information to undermine climate science and sabotage urgent climate action.
Four Key Trends Unveiled
1. #ClimateScam Dominates Digital Discourse
The emergence of the hashtag #ClimateScam on Twitter in July 2022 marked the beginning of a troubling trend. By November, it consistently ranked among the top results, particularly alarming during COP27. The autocomplete feature on X still directs users to this hashtag, even with incomplete searches starting with #cl.
The mystery behind the virality of ‘climate scam’ becomes clearer when linked to a small group of accounts that experienced substantial growth since Elon Musk privatized X. The hashtag is being wielded to deny climate change’s role in global extreme weather events, turning X into a platform for disseminating misinformation.
2. Profitable Peddling of Climate Misinformation by Major Websites
CAAD identified 15 websites, including The Daily Telegraph, Breitbart, and Sky News Australia, that profit from publishing climate misinformation. The Daily Telegraph, a UK-based newspaper, published a staggering 85% of opinion pieces attacking or undermining climate science, policy, or associated groups.Despite policies from ad exchanges like Google and Amazon meant to prevent monetization of climate mis- and disinformation, CAAD discovered over 150 ad exchanges allowing such practices. This results in brands supporting decarbonization unwittingly appearing alongside damaging content, contradicting their corporate values.
3. Big Oil’s Substantial Spending on Meta Ads
Between January and October 2023, 13 fossil fuel companies spent up to $5.21 million on Meta ads, securing 2,562 ads on Facebook. Notably, Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, and TotalEnergies accounted for 98% of this identified ad spend.
Despite emphasizing sustainability and socially progressive initiatives, fossil fuel companies contributed only 1% to global clean energy investment in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency. This dissonance underscores the deceptive narrative presented in their advertisements.
4. Russian State Media Weaponizing Climate Debates
Russian state-backed accounts have entered the arena of climate mis- and disinformation, acting as agents of chaos rather than adhering to consistent messaging on climate science. CAAD observes their use of these topics to strengthen influence campaigns targeting both Western countries and the Global South.
The accounts exhibit a fluid stance on energy issues, condemning fossil fuel investments linked to Western countries but praising them when tied to Russia. Moreover, Russian accounts attempt to discredit oil sanctions imposed by Western governments and vilify climate protesters in European countries, resorting to personal attacks on climate figures like Greta Thunberg.
Confronting the Threat: A Barrier to Cohesion and Action
As COP28 looms on the horizon, the revelation of this mis- and disinformation threat calls for urgent attention. Jennie King concludes, “We must recognize the threat of mis- and disinformation for what it is: a barrier to cohesion, to action, and to a livable future for all.” Tackling the intertwined crises of climate change and information manipulation demands a united front, exposing the manipulative tactics, and holding accountable those contributing to the degradation of our planet and the truth.
