During the opening session of COP30, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the importance of truth in combating climate change, equating it to the battle against emissions. He asserted that COP30 should signify “a new defeat for climate deniers.”
Twelve countries, including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, and Spain, signed the inaugural Statement on Climate Change Information Integrity, committing to counteract misinformation and safeguard advocates of truth like journalists and scientists. This statement is part of the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, aiming to dismantle climate misinformation and protect evidence-based voices.
João Brant, Brazil’s secretary for digital policies, stated the urgent goal of creating “a wave of truth.” This initiative, launched in June, involves a collaboration between Brazil, the United Nations Department of Global Communications, and UNESCO.
Disinformation poses a direct threat to COP30, as highlighted by Frederico Assis, COP30’s special envoy for information integrity. He explained that disinformation endangers the entire COP process, from negotiations to summits, driven by extremist worldviews and fostering political extremism.
UNESCO’s Guilherme Canela noted that for the first time, information integrity is on the official COP agenda. The global initiative seeks to uncover the mechanisms fueling climate disinformation, emphasizing the need for investigative journalism, especially in the Global South. The Global Climate Change Information Integrity Fund, supported by Brazil’s initial million-dollar contribution, has already received 447 proposals from nearly 100 countries.
Maria Clara Moraes, a prominent climate misinformation combatant, warned of the highly organized nature of disinformation campaigns, often backed by powerful interests such as the fossil fuel industry. She stressed that reaffirming the importance of multilateral efforts like COP30 is crucial.
Despite challenges, Moraes sees hope in younger generations who are increasingly aware of the climate emergency. She advocates for “micro-revolutions” through daily choices that support climate action and foster systemic change.
UN News provides coverage of COP30 from Belém, reporting on the conference’s developments.
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