A major new report has revealed how the spread of misinformation about climate change is derailing efforts to combat the climate crisis. Released by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), Information Integrity about Climate Science: A Systematic Review warns that misleading narratives are delaying global progress on reducing emissions and building climate resilience.
The report is the result of a decade-long systematic review of over 300 academic studies conducted between 2015 and 2025. It concludes that climate misinformation often pushed by fossil fuel giants, political actors, and even state institutions is not just targeting the science of climate change, but also undermining proposed solutions and policy measures.
Fossil Fuel Industry at the Core of Disinformation
The findings allege that oil and coal companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, Peabody, and Core Natural Resourceshave worked systematically to downplay their environmental impact and mislead the public. These companies have allegedly promoted false narratives around their emissions and sustainability efforts to deflect accountability and delay regulation.
Other high-emission sectors such as aviation, animal agriculture, fast food, and tourism have also been implicated. One study cited in the review found that nearly half (44%) of climate-related claims made by airlines were misleading. In the U.S., reports show that animal agriculture firms collaborated with scientific bodies to obscure the true scale of their carbon footprint.
Misinformation Reaches Every Corner of Society
The report describes how misinformation is spread through digital media, television, print, and interpersonal channels. While most people encounter misleading claims via news or social media, policymakers who shape climate legislation are increasingly targeted through lobbying, private communications, and tailored briefings, making misinformation harder to trace and debunk.
Notably, the majority of research reviewed focused on the Global North, especially the U.S. and Europe. The report highlights an urgent need for more studies on how misinformation impacts the Global South, warning that a lack of regional data could leave billions vulnerable to manipulation and stalled climate action.
Undermining Trust, Delaying Solutions
IPIE’s findings show how misinformation erodes public trust in climate science, misguides voters and consumers, and creates political gridlock. The authors caution that without decisive intervention, the disinformation crisis could squander the limited time left to halve global emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by mid-century.
To counter this threat, the report puts forward four urgent policy recommendations:
•Legal and regulatory reforms to crack down on false climate claims.
•Standardised emissions reporting to ensure transparency and consistency.
•Cross-sector alliances to build resilience against disinformation.
•Long-term public education campaigns to improve climate literacy.
As misinformation grows more sophisticated, the report serves as a wake-up call to governments, media platforms, and civil society. Combating falsehoods is no longer a side issue it’s central to saving the planet.