The Shifting Landscape of Climate Misinformation
From AI to greenlash – For years, scientists have worked tirelessly to counter claims suggesting that chilly winters disprove global warming or that natural cycles explain temperature shifts without human involvement. However, according to specialists, these misleading narratives are undergoing a significant transformation. Rather than outright rejecting the reality of climate change, the current wave of disinformation targets environmental policies and the feasibility of climate action measures.
“The era of climate denial is pretty much over,” Ned Mendez, head of research and insights at digital campaigning agency 411, told Euronews’ verification team, The Cube. “The disinformation industry has moved one rung downstream. So it’s not really about whether the fight about global warming is real, it’s about whether or not the response is feasible, whether it’s fair and whether it is worth the price.”
This evolution represents a strategic pivot in how misinformation operates. While traditional disinformation focused on questioning whether climate change exists or whether humans caused it, contemporary narratives concentrate on criticizing the solutions being proposed. Eva Morel, secretary of the French climate disinformation watchdog Quota Climat, explained that denying the existence of climate change is no longer the dominant form this phenomenon takes.
Understanding Greenlash
This shift aligns with a broader political movement known as “greenlash”—a combination of “green” and “backlash.” This term captures the mounting political opposition to climate change initiatives across various regions. Despite this growing resistance, Morel noted that climate disinformation continues to be heavily influenced by the news cycle. Political debates, the release of climate-related policy documents, significant international gatherings like COP summits or European meetings, and extreme weather events all shape how misinformation spreads.
These misleading narratives extend beyond social media platforms. Even though European leaders generally agree that climate change is real and requires immediate attention, denial remains embedded in political discourse. In Germany, for instance, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has challenged the scientific consensus regarding human-caused climate change. Meanwhile, other political figures mirror statements made by former US President Donald Trump, who has consistently characterized climate change as a deception and criticized European governments for their environmental policies, calling them the “green new scam.”
False Narratives in Action
Incorrect claims about climate change persist alongside misinformation targeting specific policies. During Europe’s record-breaking heatwave in June, social media platforms saw a surge in posts claiming that elevated temperatures were nothing extraordinary. These messages argued that such conditions matched previous temperature spikes, pointing to heatwaves that occurred in London during the 1970s as evidence.
Climate scientists emphasize that these assertions are not merely misleading but have also intensified the hostility and harassment they encounter online. Many people blame experts for inadequate climate action. Morel observed that critics argue scientists have been too alarmist, insufficiently educational, and responsible for choosing incorrect solutions.
Such false narratives about Europe’s recent heatwave are far from isolated incidents. When eastern Spain experienced a year’s worth of rainfall in October 2024, disinformation surrounding one of the nation’s deadliest natural disasters gained considerable momentum. The tragedy claimed over 230 lives, yet false claims emerged suggesting that dams had been deliberately removed to worsen flooding. Additional allegations pointed to the EU’s biodiversity strategy and river restoration policy as culprits behind the catastrophe.
Politicians from Spain’s far-right Vox party, which questions the reality of climate change, played key roles in spreading these claims. According to Mendez, deep-seated institutional mistrust fueled these narratives. He explained that when people are predisposed to distrust institutions, even practical advice—such as warnings about rising water levels—can be dismissed as fabricated to make a point.
Several recurring themes characterize climate disinformation, including the perception that the green transition represents a punitive plan enforced by a distant Brussels elite. This transition encompasses a worldwide movement away from polluting industries and fossil fuels toward sustainable, environmentally friendly practices designed to combat climate change.
