A United Nations human rights expert has called for governments to criminalize climate misinformation, warning that false claims—spread by fossil fuel companies, media outlets, and political actors—are obstructing urgent climate action. Elisa Morgera, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and climate change, made the appeal last week, just days before Brazil prepares to rally nations behind a separate UN initiative targeting climate falsehoods ahead of the COP30 summit.
The push follows a sweeping report by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), which found that misinformation campaigns are delaying critical policy responses, potentially turning the climate crisis into a catastrophe.
According to the IPIE report, which analyzed 300 studies, climate misinformation has shifted from outright denial to undermining solutions—such as falsely blaming renewable energy for power outages. Researchers identified coordinated efforts by fossil fuel interests, right-wing politicians, and foreign actors to amplify misleading narratives through online bots, trolls, and targeted lobbying.
“If we don’t have the right information available, how are we going to vote for the right causes and politicians?” said Dr. Klaus Jensen of the University of Copenhagen, a co-lead author of the report. “Unfortunately, I think the [bad actors] are still very, very active, and probably have the upper hand now.”
Morgera’s proposal goes further, urging states to impose criminal penalties on fossil fuel firms for “greenwashing” and on media companies that amplify false claims. Her stance aligns with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who in June 2024 labeled fossil fuel advertisers the “godfathers of climate chaos” and demanded an ad ban.
Critics warn such measures could stifle free speech, but proponents argue misinformation threatens global climate goals. “We have about five years to cut emissions in half,” Jensen said. “Without the right information, we’re not going to get there.” The push mirrors past efforts to regulate tobacco and COVID-19 misinformation but faces unique challenges due to the politicization of climate science. Brazil’s upcoming campaign signals growing international momentum, yet enforcement remains uncertain.
As climate deadlines loom, the battle over misinformation enters a new phase—one where legal consequences could reshape public discourse. Whether criminalization will curb falsehoods or deepen polarization remains a pivotal question for policymakers worldwide. Check out ClimateAlarmism.news for updates on psychotic billionaires trying to make it illegal to criticize their Ponzi scheme of fake climate change.
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