Thirteen nations have joined hands to confront one of the most insidious challenges undermining climate action: the spread of misinformation and disinformation about climate change.
The countries endorsed a new global pact known as the “Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change,” unveiled at the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil.
The initiative, launched under the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, seeks to strengthen the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of public information surrounding the climate crisis.
Signatories to the declaration include Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, Belgium, and two other nations, marking a major step toward international collaboration on truthful and science-driven climate communication.
The declaration calls for joint efforts by governments, civil society, and private organisations to protect journalists, researchers, and climate advocates, ensuring that public discourse remains grounded in verified scientific evidence.
Speaking during the launch, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that “climate change is no longer a threat of the future — it is a tragedy of the present.”
He condemned the rise of “obscurantists who reject scientific evidence and attack institutions,” insisting that the global community must “deliver yet another defeat to denialism.”
In a statement ahead of the event, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the importance of safeguarding truth in the digital age.
“Scientists and researchers should never fear telling the truth,” he said. “This initiative represents a collective effort to uphold the integrity of climate information and ensure that our actions are based on facts, not falsehoods.”
The new pact comes on the heels of mounting concerns that online disinformation, from climate denial to corporate greenwashing — is distorting public understanding, weakening policy responses, and delaying the urgent transition toward net-zero emissions.
By aligning to combat this threat, the 13 nations have signalled that defending truth is now a critical part of defending the planet.
