How disinformation threatens the response to the climate crisis
The spread of false and distorted content across social media is hindering the implementation of public policies and exacerbating the risks to vulnerable populations in the midst of the climate emergency
This photo illustration shows a woman checking the settings of the messaging application WhatsApp, in Bangalore on October 25, 2022, after the application was hit by a global outage, according to reports by monitoring site Downdetector and user complaints on social media. (Photo by Manjunath KIRAN / AFP)
The spread of disinformation about climate change is on the increase in several countries, among them Brazil. This is hindering the advancement of public policies and compromising responses to environmental emergencies. This is far from being a mere clash of opinions, this phenomenon poses a threat to fundamental rights such as health, housing, and food – especially among populations already suffering the effects of climate change. During Environment Week, Conectas is reflecting on this issue.
The climate crisis, considered one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century, directly affects the right to life, food security and adequate housing. On this backdrop, disinformation is becoming a serious obstacle to the formulation of effective public policies and to the social engagement needed for a fair ecological transition.
The spread of manipulated, denialist content about the climate crisis misleads public opinion and serves economic interests opposed to environmental regulation. The outcome is the undermining of mitigation and adaptation strategies and the exacerbation of the conditions facing Indigenous peoples, quilombola, riverine and peripheral communities and people living in high risk areas.
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The ecosystem of climate disinformation in Brazil
According to research by NetLab/UFRJ, climate disinformation in Brazil operates within a well-organized online ecosystem that includes influencers and platforms like YouTube and social media. These digital structures monetize disinformation, directly and indirectly funding and profiting from denialist videos through advertising.
Cross-platform coordination reinforces the so-called echo chamber effect, in which users are continuously exposed to denialist content across different platforms distancing them from critical, scientific perspectives. This dynamic deepens polarization and makes it harder to build the social consensus which is essential for a collective response to the climate crisis.
Extreme events as a trigger for conspiracy theories
Environmental disasters are also being exploited by this ecosystem. The floods in Rio Grande do Sul in 2023 were swiftly co-opted by conspiratorial narratives that diverted attention from the structural causes which are linked to climate change. Furthermore, projects like Amazonas: mentira tem preço (Amazonas: Lies Come at a Price) show how climate coverage in the Amazon region remains scarce and disconnected from local conditions, paving the way for the spread of false or distorted content.
Disinformation undermines rights and stalls policy
Disinformation also deepens distrust in institutions and makes it harder for public authorities to take urgent action. The absence of a shared base of reliable data, combined with the spread of content that spreads falsehoods regarding government responses, as seen in Rio Grande do Sul, diminishes the government´s ability to act and pollutes public debate. The rights of communities that are already vulnerable are threatened by the lag in adaptation and mitigation policies. Moreover, the spread of disinformation significantly hampers humanitarian efforts by creating additional obstacles in already critical conditions.
Ways to address climate disinformation
To address climate disinformation, experts advocate for a series of urgent measures involving both the public sector and digital platforms. Key recommendations include holding the platforms accountable for the content they host and monetize, reviewing algorithms that prioritize sensationalist, false content and demonetizing channels that spread disinformation. It is also essential to bolster scientific communication by investing in accessible language and in popular media, as well as increasing climate education and media literacy, from school curricula to the ongoing training of educators.
The Coordination Room Against Disinformation, a coalition of civil society organizations, including Conectas has published a document with proposals for regulating digital platforms in Brazil with particular attention to the climate crisis and environmental protection. The group advocates specific measures to combat socio-environmental disinformation, such as climate denialism, online attacks against environmental defenders, while also demanding greater transparency and accountability from platforms regarding content that is boosted.
One of the key points of consensus is the need for the terms of use of the platforms to include clear rules against content that denies scientific evidence about climate change and deforestation. It is also proposed that the profiles of environmentalists, Indigenous peoples, and quilombola communities receive special protection against coordinated attacks. The document also suggests the creation of specific reports on moderation and the impact of algorithms, as well as setting up an independent regulatory body with a multi-sectoral approach and meaningful social participation.
The initiative points to the urgent need to address disinformation as a human rights and socio-environmental justice issue, stressing that digital regulation should contribute to a more inclusive, more democratic and safer online environment, especially for populations that are more vulnerable to the effects of the climate and environmental crises.
Climate justice begins with trustworthy information
Addressing disinformation is an essential element of the climate justice agenda. Ensuring access to information based on scientific evidence and relevant to local conditions is a prerequisite for safeguarding human rights and building a fairer, safer, and more sustainable future.
