A newly released global report has revealed that misleading information about climate science is significantly delaying the world’s response to the climate crisis,
The report identifies powerful actors—including oil companies, governments, and political figures—intentionally spreading falsehoods to confuse the public and derail climate action.
The Synthesis Report 2025 published by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), is based on a review of 300 peer-reviewed studies conducted between 2015 and 2025. The report highlights that misinformation campaigns are not only global in scale but are also heavily concentrated in the Global North, with minimal research attention paid to countries in the Global South, including Nigeria and its neighbours.
It was also noted that human response to the climate crisis is being obstructed and delayed by the production and circulation of misleading information about the nature of climate change and the available solutions.
According to the report, fossil fuel giants such as ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and TotalEnergies have systematically engaged in what the report calls “greenwashing”—projecting a false image of environmental responsibility while continuing environmentally harmful operations. These companies, along with their lobbying arms and allied think tanks, have invested in media campaigns and digital disinformation to cast doubt on the science of climate change and to slow down government action.
The review also points to political figures, particularly in the United States and Europe, who promote climate skepticism for political gain. In many cases, right-wing political parties and conservative think tanks have either outright denied the existence of climate change or questioned the feasibility of proposed solutions. In the U.S., former President Donald Trump was cited as a major influencer in spreading climate misinformation on social media.
In Russia and China, the report documents instances where state-owned media and national governments have undermined climate science. In some cases, Russian troll farms were found to have targeted international audiences with coordinated misinformation campaigns online.
While these disruptions to information integrity are widely documented in the Global North, the report stresses that very little is known about similar trends in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This research gap, the authors say, is especially concerning because the Global South is expected to bear the brunt of climate change impacts.
“The climate crisis is urgent, and yet it is being deepened by the pollution of our information environments,” the report said. “From misinformation on social media to deliberate distortion by state and corporate actors, the result is delay, confusion, and public mistrust.”
The review identifies four key strategies to counter misinformation: legislation on carbon reporting and labelling, legal enforcement of climate standards, cross-sector partnerships, and widespread public education. It also calls on governments—especially in the Global South—to invest in climate information infrastructure and ensure the accuracy of environmental communication.
Nigeria, which continues to experience climate shocks such as floods, desertification, and rising temperatures, has yet to develop robust systems to tackle climate misinformation. Analysts say this gap is dangerous.
“The lack of focus on Africa in global climate communication research does not mean we are immune,” said Dr. Anietie Umoren, an environmental policy expert. “In fact, our vulnerability makes it even more important to demand integrity and accuracy in how climate issues are reported and debated.”
The report ends with a warning to policymakers: failure to ensure the integrity of climate information may cost the planet more than just time—it may cost lives.
IPIE is organizing a crucial webinar to discuss the findings from its groundbreaking “Facts, Fakes, and Climate Science” report – the first global, systematic assessment of information integrity on climate change.
Professor Klaus Bruhn Jensen, Chair of the IPIE’s Scientific Panel on Information Integrity about Climate Science, will reveal these key findings from their report (reviewing 300 studies from 2015-2025). He will detail the latest trends in climate misinformation and outline necessary responses from governments, platforms, and civil society.
Policy implications stemming from this vital research will be discussed by Dr. Ece Elbeyi, IPIE Consulting Scientist. The session, chaired by Dr. Phil Howard, President of the IPIE, will conclude with an audience Q&A.
You can find the event details and registration link here (hyperlink this link on here https://www.ipie.info/fighting-climate-misinformation-protecting-information-integrity-ahead-of-cop30).
Download the full report here