New Delhi: Twelve countries signed the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at a United Nations (UN) conference Wednesday, promising to protect accurate, fact-based information on climate change.
The agreement was introduced at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belém, Brazil and marks the first time that countries decided to combat climate disinformation and the undermining of climate issues at a COP.
“(We are) concerned by the growing impact of disinformation, misinformation, denialism, deliberate attacks on environmental journalists, defenders, scientists, researchers and other public voices,” reads the declaration signed by Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, and Uruguay.
Launched by the Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change, which was formed by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the UN and the Government of Brazil in June this year. It recognises and acts against the sources of disinformation on pressing climate issues like global warming, and protects those who provide climate information.
Acknowledging the role of multiple actors in combating the climate crisis—governments, NGOs, civil society actors, universities and media—the declaration said that to mobilise support, it was necessary to have accurate, reliable and “evidence-based” information on climate change. This included scientific information about extreme weather events and global atmospheric conditions, and information about climate policies and public participation in environmental issues.
An open letter signed by over 300 civil society actors on 12 November regarding information integrity pointed out the role of fossil fuel companies in “information manipulation” on climate change.
The letter read: “Vested economic and political interests—chiefly those in the fossil fuel industry—continue to organise and finance disinformation campaigns.”
It quoted studies by organisations like the International Panel on Information Environment (IPIE), which in 2025 said that fossil fuel companies and political parties are one of the biggest sources of climate scepticism and disinformation, via TV channels and social media. A 2024 Guardian investigation found how the oil and gas company, Shell, funnelled thousands of dollars into organisations that support climate denialism.
According to the declaration, the way to combat climate disinformation is by supporting a strong media ecosystem, international cooperation on information integrity, and urging governments to develop laws in line with international frameworks on climate information protection.
President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said in a press conference on Wednesday that climate change is no longer a threat of the future.
“We live in an era in which obscurantists reject scientific evidence and attack institutions. It is time to deliver yet another defeat to denialism.”
COP30 began on 10 November and will take place till 21 November. It is the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change that brings together member-states of the UNFCCC.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
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