People with umbrellas walking past a wall with a blue mural.

Falsehoods about climate change slow action and deepen the crisis, global report warns

Misinformation about climate change — spread by fossil fuel interests, politicians, and state actors — is delaying action and worsening environmental risks, a new analysis finds.

Damian Carrington reports for The Guardian.


In short:

  • A sweeping review of 300 studies by the International Panel on the Information Environment found that climate misinformation — deliberate and accidental — is undermining trust in science and delaying policy solutions.
  • The report says fossil fuel companies, political figures including Donald Trump, and state-backed campaigns, such as Russian troll farms, are major sources of falsehoods about climate science and proposed solutions.
  • The United Nations and participating countries plan to launch new global measures to combat climate-related disinformation ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

Key quote:

“If we don’t have the right information available, how are we going to vote for the right causes and politicians, and how are politicians going to translate the clear evidence into the necessary action?”

— Klaus Jensen, University of Copenhagen communications professor and co-lead of the International Panel on the Information Environment review

Why this matters:

Climate misinformation slows down the public support and political will needed to cut emissions and protect human and environmental health. Misleading narratives have falsely blamed renewables for blackouts, promoted fossil gas as a “clean” fuel, and fed conspiracy theories that stretch into absurdity. These tactics stall urgent decisions while the planet warms and weather extremes worsen. Targeted disinformation campaigns by industries and some governments aren’t limited to social media; they reach policymakers directly, shaping laws and public investment. As greenhouse gases rise, this war over truth is becoming its own driver of the crisis, turning delay into danger for air quality, food systems, and global stability.

Read more: Fossil fuel industry spreads misinformation to hinder global shift to renewable energy

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The Trump administration has sharply reduced federal hazard mitigation funds, breaking precedent and leaving states with fewer resources to prepare for worsening floods and storms.

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National Science Foundation (NSF) workers are blowing the whistle on political interference that’s threatening the agency’s integrity and mission.

Alexa Robles-Gil reports for The New York Times.

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Jacob Posner reports for The Christian Science Monitor.

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FEMA delays disaster aid to multiple states while Texas receives rapid approval

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Brianna Sacks reports for The Washington Post.

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Texas flood response faces scrutiny as FEMA defends actions to Congress

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s acting chief told lawmakers Wednesday that the federal response to catastrophic Texas floods was effective, rejecting claims of delayed rescues and unstaffed call centers.

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