Understanding the global climate disinformation landscape

This briefing by the NewClimate Institute describes climate disinformation as an escalating geopolitical threat that targets climate risk understanding and undermines global goals. It argues that the closure of the U.S. State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) creates a gap in international response, providing an opportunity for the EU to assume a global leadership role in safeguarding information integrity through multilateral cooperation and investment in protective tools.

• Climate disinformation has evolved from primarily discrediting climate science to more sophisticated efforts by hostile states, fossil fuel interests, and AI-driven techniques. These campaigns target the public's understanding of climate risks, promote deceptive narratives regarding the costs of climate action, and undermine international cooperation and societal cohesion. The Brazilian presidency at COP30 recognized this threat by placing information integrity on the climate agenda and launching the Global Initiative for Information Integrity.
• The closure of the U.S. State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) by the Trump Administration has created a significant gap in the international capacity to identify, analyze, and coordinate responses to foreign information manipulation. The GEC previously supported civil society and allies and developed tools to detect deception and deepfakes; its absence increases the risk that disinformation regarding energy and climate will spread unchecked.
• The EU is positioned to take a global leadership role in fighting climate disinformation, leveraging its existing digital services regulations and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) monitoring via the European External Action Service (EEAS). To address the threat, the EU can expand its role by improving strategic communication, enhancing support for partner countries, deepening multilateral cooperation, and investing in tools to protect the integrity of climate action information globally.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2025). Understanding the global climate disinformation landscape. https://newclimate.org/resources/publications/briefing-understanding-the-global-climate-disinformation-landscape-and

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Understanding the global climate disinformation landscape. 2025. https://newclimate.org/resources/publications/briefing-understanding-the-global-climate-disinformation-landscape-and.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Understanding the global climate disinformation landscape |date=9 December 2025 |url=https://newclimate.org/resources/publications/briefing-understanding-the-global-climate-disinformation-landscape-and |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2025understanding, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Understanding the global climate disinformation landscape}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://newclimate.org/resources/publications/briefing-understanding-the-global-climate-disinformation-landscape-and}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }