In a landmark move at COP30, the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change (GI4I-CC) officially launched the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, uniting governments, civil society, and international organizations in a shared commitment to fight the spread of climate disinformation and uphold the accuracy of public climate communication.
The Declaration establishes a global framework for protecting the integrity of climate-related information—recognizing that misinformation, denialism, and online harassment of scientists, journalists, and environmental defenders are increasingly undermining trust, delaying climate action, and threatening societal stability.
So far, ten countries — including Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay — have endorsed the Declaration, drafted collaboratively with civil society and advisory partners.
Speaking during the launch in Belém, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned of the grave dangers of misinformation:
“Climate change is no longer a threat of the future; it is a tragedy of the present. We live in an era where obscurantists reject scientific evidence and attack institutions. It is time to deliver yet another defeat to denialism.”
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this sentiment, calling for a united response against false narratives and online manipulation:
“We must fight mis- and disinformation, online harassment, and greenwashing. Scientists and researchers should never fear telling the truth.”
According to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, access to reliable, evidence-based information is essential for empowering citizens and strengthening global climate response:
“Without access to reliable information about climate disruption we can never hope to overcome it. Through this initiative, we will support journalists and researchers investigating climate issues—sometimes at great risk to themselves—and fight the climate disinformation running rampant on social media.”
The Declaration highlights five key commitments for governments and partners:
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Promote information integrity in line with human rights and freedom of expression principles.
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Strengthen media ecosystems to ensure accurate climate coverage.
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Embed information integrity into the UNFCCC’s Action for Climate Empowerment framework.
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Advance equitable access to evidence-based, understandable climate information.
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Foster cooperation and protection for journalists, scientists, and researchers addressing climate topics.
The Global Initiative also announced four new member countries — Belgium, Canada, Finland, and Germany — bringing total participation to thirteen nations. This expansion underscores growing recognition that information integrity is central to effective climate governance and collective problem-solving.
Since its launch in June 2025, the Initiative’s Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change has received 447 project proposals from nearly 100 countries. With an initial USD 1 million contribution from Brazil, the Fund has begun financing its first projects, with nearly two-thirds originating from the Global South—a vital region in the battle against climate misinformation.
The Declaration calls for increased contributions to the Fund and urges governments and the private sector to embed integrity in their communication and advertising practices, ensuring transparency and accountability across the climate information landscape.
At its core, the Declaration marks a turning point for global climate communication—framing the right to accurate information as essential to both democratic governance and effective climate action.
As the world looks beyond COP30, the Global Initiative’s work may well define how societies understand, discuss, and respond to the defining environmental challenge of our era.
