Efforts to combat the global climate crisis are being severely undermined by a wave of misinformation that distorts scientific facts and misleads the public, according to a comprehensive new report by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) a global network of more than 250 experts.
The report, “Information Integrity about Climate Science: A Systematic Review,” synthesizes findings from over 300 academic studies published between 2015 and 2025. It paints a stark picture of how false or misleading narratives often backed by powerful fossil fuel corporations and industry lobbies are obstructing climate action at a time when the world can least afford delays.
Fossil Fuel Firms at the Epicenter
The report accuses major oil and coal companies including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips, Peabody, and Core Natural Resources of persistently promoting false or selective information about their emissions, their role in climate change, and the effectiveness of proposed climate solutions.
These campaigns have aimed to sow doubt about climate science, shift responsibility away from corporate emitters, and portray themselves as green leaders despite continuing investments in fossil fuels.
According to the report, similar strategies are increasingly used by other high-emission sectors such as aviation, fast food, tourism, and animal agriculture. One cited study revealed that 44% of carbon-related claims made by commercial airlines were misleading. In the livestock industry, some corporations worked with scientific institutions to downplay emissions data, directly affecting public perception and regulatory outcomes.
Distortion at Scale
The report outlines how misinformation spreads via news media, social media, corporate communications, and interpersonal networks, creating confusion among citizens and delaying political action. While the general public is bombarded with distorted content online and through mainstream news, policymakers are often targeted more subtly, through lobbying and behind-the-scenes influence tactics that are harder to track.
The crisis is especially severe in the Global North, where most misinformation studies have been concentrated. However, the report flags an alarming gap in data from the Global South, warning that large populations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America remain exposed to unchecked falsehoods often without the tools or media literacy to resist.
Real-world Impact: Delay, Doubt, and Denial
The report underscores that the information integrity crisis is more than just a threat to public understanding it is actively derailing the global climate agenda.
•Misinformation, it says, contributes to:
•Distorted risk perception and public confusion about scientific consensus
•Erosion of trust in science, media, and climate institutions
•Political paralysis, as public divisions are exploited by vested interests
•Delays in emission reductions, risking the global goal of halving emissions by 2030
Four Urgent Policy Recommendations
To stem the tide of false climate narratives, the IPIE outlines four key actions for governments, media, and civil society:
•Legal and Regulatory Reforms
Enforce stronger mechanisms to hold corporations accountable for climate-related misinformation and false advertising.
•Standardised Emissions Disclosures
Mandate transparent, independently verified emissions reporting to reduce greenwashing and increase accountability.
•Broad Alliances for Climate Integrity
Encourage collaboration among academics, media, governments, tech platforms, and civil society to monitor and counter misinformation.
•Public Education and Media Literacy
Launch sustained campaigns to build public resilience against climate misinformation, with an emphasis on digital literacy and science communication.
The authors stress that action must be swift. “With the world on a tight timeline to limit warming to 1.5°C, we cannot allow truth to be buried under a mountain of manufactured doubt,” the report concludes.