Information Integrity in Climate Action at COP30

The 2025 COP30 summit introduced a new focus on information integrity in climate action. This theme marks the need for truthful, evidence-based communication on climate issues, especially in the Global South. Countries including Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay have endorsed a declaration to combat climate misinformation and promote scientific temper.

Context and Importance

Information integrity means ensuring climate information is accurate and trustworthy. False or misleading climate data can hinder global efforts to tackle climate change. The Global South faces unique challenges in accessing reliable information and combating disinformation. COP30 recognised that agency and value systems in climate action must be protected to ensure effective climate policies.

Key Measures to Promote Information Integrity

First, combating misinformation requires active efforts to spread scientific facts and reliable data. Governments and institutions should provide public access to consistent, evidence-based climate information. Second, protecting scientists, journalists, and communicators is essential. National laws must align with human rights and freedom of expression while safeguarding these actors. Third, funding for applied climate research should increase, especially in developing countries. India’s Anusandhan National Research Foundation is an example of a body that can support such research.

Role of Private Sector and Media Platforms

The private sector must adopt transparent, human rights-respecting advertising and media practices. Social media platforms should review their algorithms to prevent misinformation spread. Companies promoting greenwashing or climate denialism should face penalties. These actions help maintain the credibility of climate communication and support policy decisions based on facts.

Academic and Civil Society Contributions

Academic institutions and think-tanks can lead research to understand misinformation’s effects and develop counter-strategies. They should promote access to authentic sources such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and peer-reviewed journals. Civil society organisations play a vital role in documenting best practices and running campaigns for information integrity in vulnerable regions.

Investigative Journalism and Global Fund Initiatives

Investigative journalism is crucial for exposing false narratives and educating citizens on climate realities. Since its launch in June 2025, the Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change has received 447 proposals from nearly 100 countries. Initial funding of $1 million from Brazil has helped support projects worldwide, with most proposals coming from the Global South. This fund aims to strengthen global efforts against climate misinformation.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Critically discuss the role of information integrity in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
2. Examine the impact of misinformation on public policy and citizen participation in environmental governance.
3. With suitable examples, discuss the challenges faced by developing countries in promoting scientific temper and evidence-based climate action.
4. Analyse the responsibilities of private sector and media platforms in preventing the spread of climate misinformation and greenwashing.

Answer Hints:

1. Critically discuss the role of information integrity in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

1. Information integrity ensures accurate, evidence-based data guides mitigation and adaptation policies.
2. Combats climate misinformation that can delay or derail climate action efforts globally.
3. Promotes public trust and inclusive participation, essential for successful climate strategies.
4. Supports accountability by enabling monitoring and evaluation of climate policies and actions.
5. Protects the agency of scientists, researchers, and communicators to maintain credible information flow.
6. Fosters international collaboration, especially between Global North and South, for aligned climate goals.

2. Examine the impact of misinformation on public policy and citizen participation in environmental governance.

1. Misinformation leads to public confusion and skepticism about climate science and policies.
2. Weakens policy formulation by influencing decision-makers with false or misleading data.
3. Reduces citizen engagement and trust, impairing democratic participation in environmental governance.
4. Enables greenwashing and climate denialism, undermining genuine sustainability efforts.
5. Increases vulnerability of marginalized communities due to lack of reliable information access.
6. Complicates enforcement of climate laws and weakens accountability mechanisms.

3. With suitable examples, discuss the challenges faced by developing countries in promoting scientific temper and evidence-based climate action.

1. Limited funding for applied climate research and policy development (e.g., reliance on external aid).
2. Inadequate infrastructure and access to authentic scientific data and publications.
3. Prevalence of misinformation and low scientific literacy among the public and policymakers.
4. Political and economic pressures that prioritize short-term gains over long-term climate goals.
5. Challenges in protecting freedom of expression and safety of climate communicators and journalists.
6. Example – India’s Anusandhan National Research Foundation aims to boost research but still faces resource constraints.

4. Analyse the responsibilities of private sector and media platforms in preventing the spread of climate misinformation and greenwashing.

1. Adopt transparent, human rights-respecting advertising and media practices related to climate claims.
2. Conduct due diligence on platform algorithms to prevent amplification of false climate information.
3. Penalize corporations engaging in greenwashing or climate denialism to deter misleading practices.
4. Promote evidence-based content and support climate literacy through responsible communication.
5. Collaborate with governments and civil society to uphold information integrity standards.
6. Ensure accountability by monitoring and reporting misinformation trends on their platforms.