Unravelling the Climate 'Information Crisis' on Social Media Ahead of COP28

As world leaders prepare for COP28 in Dubai, concerns about the climate 'information crisis' on various social media platforms are mounting. A Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) coalition report reveals that misinformation and disinformation are exacerbating the climate crisis, hindering urgent climate action. This article explores key trends identified by CAAD experts, shedding light on the challenges of misinformation campaigns.

4 Key Trends in Climate Misinformation:

#ClimateScam Trending on Social Media:

    • The hashtag #ClimateScam gained prominence on Twitter, spiking in July 2022 and consistently appearing as a top result by November. This is concerning, especially during COP27, indicating a narrative that challenges the scientific consensus on climate change.

    • The term is associated with denialism, rejecting climate change's contributions to extreme weather events. It has been linked to accounts that gained significant followings, particularly since Elon Musk's involvement with Twitter.

Profiting from Climate Misinformation Websites:

    • CAAD identifies 15 websites, including The Daily Telegraph, Breitbart, and Sky News Australia, that publish popular climate misinformation and profit from ads.

    • Despite ad tech companies having policies against climate misinformation, CAAD found over 150 ad exchanges allowing the monetization of such content, leading to unintended brand associations with misinformation.

Big Oil's Advertising Spending on Meta Platforms:

    • Between January and October 2023, 13 fossil fuel companies spent up to $5.21 million on Meta's advertising platform, securing thousands of ads on Facebook.

    • Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, and TotalEnergies accounted for 98% of the identified ad spend, often emphasizing sustainability or 'socially progressive' credentials while spending only 1% of global investment in clean energy in 2022.

Russian State Media Weaponizing Climate Debates:

    • Russian state-backed accounts contribute to social media storms around climate misinformation, using climate topics to strengthen influence campaigns targeting Western countries and the Global South.

    • Russian accounts exhibit inconsistent messaging on climate science but strategically use energy-related issues to serve geopolitical interests, vilifying climate protesters and engaging in personal attacks on climate figures, including Greta Thunberg.

Summary:

As COP28 approaches, the convergence of misinformation, disinformation, and geopolitical interests poses a significant challenge to climate action. CAAD's findings underscore the need to recognize the threat posed by misinformation and disinformation as barriers to global cohesion and effective climate policies. Addressing the climate 'information crisis' becomes crucial for fostering a shared understanding, promoting responsible discourse, and facilitating meaningful progress toward a sustainable and resilient future.

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