Climate misinformation threatens public understanding, effective action, UNESCO warns

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has urged journalists, civil society groups, community leaders, and other key actors to intensify efforts in combating climate change misinformation, describing it as a growing threat to public understanding and effective climate action.

The call was made by the UNESCO Abuja Head of Office and Representative, Jean-Paul Abiaga, following last month’s launch of the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change during COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on ‘Digital Transformation of the Climate Change Information Ecosystem for a Knowledge-Driven Society’ held in Lagos last week, he stressed the need for collective responsibility.

According to a statement issued by the UN Information Centre in Abuja on Sunday, Abiaga noted, “Addressing misinformation, particularly on climate change, requires the collective strength of journalists, civil society, organisations, community leaders, youth groups, religious leaders, traditional institutions, and development actors.

“Each of you plays a crucial role in ensuring that accurate, reliable, and responsible information shapes public discourse and inspires informed decision-making.”

The workshop, organised by the UNESCO Abuja Office in collaboration with the Media Awareness and Information For All Network, brought together media practitioners, fact-checkers, civil society groups, youth organisations, academics, and community representatives.

Abiaga, represented by Yachat Nuhu, warned that climate-related misinformation continues to undermine scientific evidence and weaken community resilience.

He noted that across the continent, “we have witnessed how climate-related misinformation has fuelled denial, delayed policy action, eroded trust in scientific evidence, and deepened community vulnerabilities.”

According to him, “In many cases, misinformation spreads faster than corrective facts — creating real-world consequences for communities, especially those already grappling with environmental and socio-economic pressures.”

In a presentation titled Interrogating Climate Change Myths and Misinformation and the Pathways to Ensuring Behavioural Change, the National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun, highlighted the dangers posed by climate myths and false narratives.

Soremekun explained that misconceptions often arise from misinterpreted scientific data, deliberate distortion, and rapid digital dissemination.

“Myths undermine public trust in scientific consensus and create confusion among policymakers and citizens. Understanding these myths is crucial because they influence attitudes, behaviours, and policy decisions.

“When individuals believe inaccurate information, they are less likely to support climate-friendly initiatives or adopt sustainable practices,” he said.

He called for clearer communication of scientific facts and emphasised the importance of highlighting consensus among climate experts.

“By debunking these myths, we can restore trust in science and encourage proactive engagement in climate solutions.”

Also speaking was the Executive Director of SBZ Development Ltd, USA, Samuel Babatunde, who addressed the role of education in building climate resilience.

He said, “As education increases, climate change resilience gets stronger. Climate literacy leads to climate action which will lead to resilient outcomes such as stronger food systems, reduced emissions, lower displacement, and green economic growth.”

Earlier, the Chairman of MAIN, Professor Jide Jimoh, said the workshop was rooted in Media and Information Literacy principles aimed at bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and cultural perceptions of climate change. In many communities, he explained, traditional beliefs often shape interpretations of environmental changes.

He noted that some people attribute extreme weather or agricultural shifts to spiritual forces or ancestral displeasure rather than human-induced climate disruption. This disconnect, he said, fuels scepticism and resistance to scientifically backed climate-resilience efforts.

“By fostering dialogue between stakeholders, the workshop seeks to build trust, dispel misinformation, and promote culturally grounded climate literacy that empowers communities to recognise and respond to climate-related health and livelihood impacts,” he said.

On 12 November 2025, the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change unveiled the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30.

The Declaration endorsed by Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay sets out shared international commitments to counter climate-related disinformation and to advance accurate, evidence-based climate information.

It also urges governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and funders to confront the harms caused by disinformation, misinformation, denialism, and targeted attacks on environmental journalists, defenders, scientists, and researchers that impede effective climate action.

The PUNCH journalist, Gift, has over three years of experience covering elections, security and foreign affairs.

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