Fake news, manipulation, and outright lies in the information space are increasingly focused on environmental issues. The European Union recognizes that the transparency and reliability of the data received by the population directly affects the effectiveness of climate efforts. Therefore, the EU has joined the Declaration on the Integrity of Climate Change Information.
This was reported on the European Commission's website.
The declaration was previously presented at the UN climate conference in Brazil. Apart from the EU, the document was praised by 15 other member states of the European community.
What is the truth?
European officials note that it is now increasingly difficult to determine the veracity of reports in the information environment. This is especially true when it comes to climate.
The vast majority of Europeans (84%) realize that human activity is to blame for climate change on Earth. At the same time, however, they find it difficult to find reliable confirmation of this in the media:
- 52% of Europeans state that traditional media do not provide clear information about climate topics;
- 49% of EU residents have difficulties with content on social media. They struggle to determine whether it is credible or fake.
“We live in a world where the threat of climate change is becoming ever more urgent, and at the same time, alternative truths, confrontation, and disinformation are proliferating. This is a real concern. Informed public debate, during which we listen to and study scientific data, is extremely important if humanity is to respond effectively to the climate crisis,” emphasised European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra.
EcoPolitic previously reported that at COP30, the issue of climate disinformation was included on the agenda for the first time. The 2024 United Nations report recognised it as a global problem for effective climate action.
Meanwhile, the United States is gradually withdrawing from all significant global climate organisations and exiting international agreements. Simultaneously, the country is “rewriting” environmental history. Even NASA, in its report on rising planetary temperatures for 2025, has decided to “forget” terms such as “global warming” and "climate change".
