WHO report highlights climate disinformation dangers

A recent report by the World Health Organization titled Protecting Health in the Age of Climate Disinformation warns that misinformation and disinformation about climate change are killing people. The report, produced by the WHO's civil society working group on climate and health, points to fake news from fossil fuel industries and their allies as a major contributor to public health risks, including exposure to pollution, fires, and climate disasters.

Climate disinformation linked to rising heat-related deaths

The report cites data from the Lancet Countdown, which found that heat-related deaths have increased by 36 percent in a single year. This rise is attributed to the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which are exacerbated by climate change and misinformation that downplays its effects.

Case studies show real-world impacts of climate disinformation

The report includes case studies from regions affected by climate-related disasters, such as floods in South Sudan, forest fires in Maui (Hawaii), and Canada's record-breaking 2023 fire season. In Canada, a misleading map spread false information about the proximity of fires to Yellowknife, causing unnecessary panic and influencing evacuation decisions.

Disinformation undermines climate policies

Climate disinformation also discourages the adoption of pollution and climate change policies by suggesting that measures to combat climate change are too costly or ineffective. Claims that clean energy cannot function or that climate policies threaten ordinary people are used to oppose initiatives like London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), which has successfully reduced harmful pollutants and hospital admissions.

Climate disinformation erodes trust in science and institutions

The report notes that climate disinformation undermines trust in scientific institutions and health recommendations, including those related to vaccination. Scientists who warn about climate change often face harassment, with some being accused of being foreign spies or having their personal information exposed online.

Fossil fuel companies and political actors spread disinformation

Fossil fuel companies and their economic allies are identified as the main sources of climate disinformation, alongside political parties, influencers, and commercial disinformation networks. In Canada, a former foreign affairs minister claimed that some fires were caused by environmental activists, a claim compared by a WHO scientist to the tactics used by the tobacco industry to spread misinformation.

Social media and AI worsen the spread of disinformation

Charlotte Scaddan, a United Nations adviser on information integrity, warns that social networks and artificial intelligence technologies amplify the spread of false claims for financial or strategic gain. The report suggests that addressing climate disinformation requires targeting the economic, political, and digital systems that enable its spread.

Climate disinformation thrives in France’s media landscape

In France, where many media outlets are controlled by billionaires, climate disinformation is also prevalent. Sud Radio faced criticism for spreading misinformation about low-emission zones, and a report found that continuous information channels dedicated only 3.4 percent of their airtime to environmental issues in 2025, while recording 63 disinformation events on CNews. Social media platforms have also spread conspiracy theories, linking climate events to unrelated causes like pyromaniacs or U.S. research programs.