At UNFCCC CoP30 in Belém, Brazil, countries adopted the world’s first “Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change”.

• The declaration formally recognises that maintaining the integrity of climate information is a core component of climate action, alongside mitigation, adaptation, and finance.” 

About the Declaration

• Global First: It marks the first-ever global commitment to tackle climate misinformation and disinformation.
• Signatory Countries: The declaration was signed by twelve countries, including Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Spain, the UK, the US, and Vanuatu.
• Purpose of the Declaration: The declaration aims to combat climate misinformation and disinformation, ensuring accurate climate information is disseminated globally.
• Rationale: The declaration recognises that climate action cannot succeed if people are misled or manipulated about climate facts. 
  • Accurate information is central to the success of the Paris Agreement and future climate goals.

Challenge of Climate Misinformation

• Amplification of False Narratives: Climate misinformation has reached unprecedented levels, especially on social media platforms, where misleading claims about emissions, warming trends, and the cost of renewable energy transitions often mimic scientific language, creating the illusion of credibility.
• Impact on Public Trust and Policy:
• • Misinformation weakens public trust, delays policy action, and undermines the political consensus needed to tackle climate change. 
  • The UN warns that without reliable information, societies find it difficult to make informed decisions and take collective action.

Key Commitments Under the Declaration

• Promote information integrity through:
  • Joint research, fact-checking, and education initiatives.
  • Collaboration with digital platforms, journalists, civil society organisations, and scientists to detect and counter misinformation.
  • Ensuring open access to credible climate data.
• Protection of Information Communicators: The declaration underscores the protection of journalists, researchers, activists, and others who communicate scientific information and often face harassment. 
• Alignment with Human Rights: The initiative aligns its efforts with human rights principles, ensuring that the fight against misinformation also defends freedom of expression and access to verified data.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

Significance

• First Thematic Day on Information Integrity: The declaration was launched alongside COP’s first-ever thematic day focused on this issue.
• Open Letter: CAAD and UCS released an open letter titled “Climate Action Requires Truth: COP30 Must Codify Information Integrity”, signed by over 375 organisations and experts.
• Warnings in the Letter:
• • Disinformation erodes public trust, delays policy, and fuels political polarisation.
  • Digital platforms, corporations, and governments must be held accountable for enabling climate falsehoods.
• Key Measures Proposed in the Open Letter: Establish national frameworks on information integrity within climate policy, strengthen journalism, ensure accountability, protect whistleblowers, and promote open data.

DOWNLOAD PDF