What is climate misinformation, and why does it matter?
An example is greenwashing, a way that businesses make their environmental credentials seem more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Some fashion brands, for example, tout their use of renewable, natural fibers and recyclable packaging, distracting from the countless racks of fast, disposable fashion they produce every few weeks.
Disinformation, on the other hand, is when climate deniers and other groups or official organizations deliberately publicize false information or spread hoaxes to further their own agenda against climate science and government polices intended to benefit the environment.
How does misinformation influence efforts to tackle climate change?
Major fossil fuel companies like Shell, Exxon Mobil, BP and the Global Climate Coalition, a front group for companies with links to fossil fuel industry that was disbanded in 2002, have been accused of discrediting climate science or hiding their continued fossil fuel investments with lobbying and feel-good ads since the late 1970s.
Groups like The Empowerment Alliance in the US or the Responsible Energy Citizen Coalition in Europe, for example, use a tactic known as astroturfing — allegedly acting like a spontaneous grassroots movement — to support natural gas derived from fossil fuels and discredit green policies, often with funding from unclear sources.
Misinformation and lies are also published by certain media outlets, or promoted by populist politicians.
