{"id":39461,"date":"2026-09-13T11:04:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/?p=39461"},"modified":"2026-09-13T11:05:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:05:45","slug":"climate-disinformation-and-green-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/2026\/09\/13\/climate-disinformation-and-green-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate disinformation and the green transition"},"content":{"rendered":"

The spread of misleading and false narratives about climate change and environmental policies poses one of the most serious systemic threats to the success of the green transition, evidence-based policymaking, and the democratic resilience of society. According to News<\/a><\/span> about In the World Economic Forum's global risks for 2024, disinformation and misinformation are assessed as the most extensive short-term risk<\/strong> for the next two years, while environmental threats pose the most serious long-term risk<\/strong> within a ten-year horizon. The interconnection of these two areas shows that the solution to the ecological crisis is directly dependent on protecting the integrity of the information environment.<\/p>\n

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The difference between misinformation and disinformation<\/strong><\/p>\n

To effectively counter these threats, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between two basic forms of misinformation:<\/p>\n

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  • Misinformation (unintentional misrepresentation):<\/strong> They represent verifiably false or misleading content that is being spread without intent to cause harm<\/strong>. They often arise from misunderstandings, outdated knowledge, or misinterpretation of data. An example is the claim that current warming is not a concern because the Earth's temperature has varied in the past; although natural climate fluctuations are a fact, this claim ignores that current warming is caused by human activity.<\/li>\n
  • Disinformation (deliberate lies):<\/strong> This is false or manipulated content that is created and spread with the aim of intentionally deceiving, manipulating or causing harm<\/strong>. These campaigns are usually motivated by political, financial or ideological interests. A typical example is false narratives that label renewable energy sources as fraud or non-functional solutions, which aims to question the point of climate action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    Technological causes and dynamics of spread<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The rapid development of digital platforms and social networks has fundamentally changed the way information is disseminated. The algorithmic architecture of platforms such as Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok prioritizes content that evokes strong emotions, controversy or polarization, as their business model is based on maximizing user engagement. Balanced and scientifically based information often gives way to sensational claims.<\/p>\n

    This threatening trend is significantly accelerated by the emerging generative artificial intelligence (AI)<\/strong>. It allows you to quickly and cost-effectively generate compelling text, image or video content. During extreme weather events, when public demand for information increases dramatically, AI can fill the information vacuum with poor-quality or fabricated news before official institutions can react. Automated accounts and algorithms then purposefully spread this content in closed communication groups (so-called \u201eecho chambers\u201c).<\/p>\n

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    Psychological and socio-political factors<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Vulnerability to misleading narratives is also rooted in human psychology and social structures:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Emotional triggers:<\/strong> Feelings of fear, anger, or anxiety reduce the ability to make critical judgments. Catastrophic or overly optimistic news spreads faster without prior verification.<\/li>\n
    2. Cognitive distortions:<\/strong> Confirmatory bias<\/strong> (confirmation bias<\/em>) leads people to accept information that matches their beliefs, while anchoring<\/strong> (anchoring bias<\/em>) causes them to hold fast to the original information, even if it was later refuted. It is also added repetition effect<\/strong>, in which repeated exposure to a lie increases its perceived credibility.<\/li>\n
    3. Social identity and trust in institutions:<\/strong> Perceptions of climate policies are strongly influenced by political affiliation and the level of trust in public authorities. A Eurobarometer survey shows that while 85% of Europeans consider climate change to be a serious problem, trust in national governments is only around 36%, while trust in the European Union is at 52%. In an environment of low trust, disinformation can more easily find fertile ground and can slow down approval processes or create resistance to green infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n

      European Union strategies and response<\/strong><\/p>\n

      To protect information integrity, the EU has developed a comprehensive strategy combining regulation, monitoring and research:<\/p>\n

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      • Regulatory frameworks (DSA and Code of Practice):<\/strong> Digital Services Act (Digital Services Act<\/em> \u2013 DSA) obliges large online platforms to assess and mitigate systemic risks associated with the spread of harmful content. It is complemented by a Code of Practice against Disinformation, which requires transparency in content moderation and accurate representation of climate science.<\/li>\n
      • Monitoring structures:<\/strong> European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO<\/strong>) brings together independent researchers and fact-checkers to expose coordinated disinformation campaigns. The tools are complemented by an initiative European Democracy Shield<\/em>.<\/li>\n
      • Communication methods (\u201ePrebunking\u201c and \u201eDebunking\u201c):<\/strong> The EU combines debunking falsehoods (debunking<\/em>) with a preventive warning to the public against manipulations (overcrowding<\/em>).<\/li>\n
      • Research and education (Horizon Europe and ECF4CLIM):<\/strong> The Horizon Europe Framework Programme (e.g. Cluster 5) funds research into the social dimensions of the green transition. A practical example is the project ECF4CLIM<\/strong>, which is developing a European competence framework for sustainability in education. By engaging students and local communities in working with real data, it increases climate and media literacy, thereby reducing reliance on polarized narratives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        The success of the green transformation depends not only on technological innovation, but also on the creation of a transparent and trustworthy information environment. Ensuring access to accurate information, supporting critical thinking and applying the principles COP30 Declarations on Information Integrity<\/em> are key steps towards strengthening democratic consolidation and achieving climate goals. JRi&CO2AI\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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