Information Integrity Gains Unprecedented Prominence in Climate Negotiations

The Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change was launched on Wednesday, 12 November, during COP30. The document establishes international commitments to combat climate misinformation and promote accurate information

By Rafaela Ferreira/COP30

The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change launched, on Wednesday, 12 November, the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30. The initiative establishes shared international commitments to combat climate misinformation and promote accurate, evidence-based information on climate issues. This is the first time that the topic of information integrity has been included in the COP Action Agenda.

In his opening address at the conference, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the importance of combating denialism. “In the era of disinformation, obscurantists reject not only scientific evidence but also the progress of multilateralism. They control algorithms, sow hatred, and spread fear. They attack institutions, science, and universities. It is time to once again defeat the denialists,” he said.

The document calls on endorsing countries to promote the integrity of information related to climate change at the international, national, and local levels, in accordance with international human rights law and the principles of the Paris Agreement. Developed in partnership with members of civil society from the Global Initiative’s Advisory Group, the declaration has already been endorsed by 12 countries: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Speaking at the Global Initiative event on Wednesday, COP30 CEO Ana Toni reaffirmed that there is no truth without information integrity. “This is the COP of Truth. Therefore, this is a fundamental topic we must address collectively to protect the integrity of information,” she stated.

João Brant, Secretary for Digital Policies of the Secretariat for Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic (Secom-PR), recalled that this is the first time the issue has been addressed within a COP process. “This is a major achievement by numerous national and international organizations, governments, civil society, and academic researchers who, together with UNESCO, the UN Committee, and all partners, have launched this Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change,” he said.

About the Declaration

The document calls on governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and donors to take concrete measures to address the growing impact of misinformation, false information, denialism, and deliberate attacks against environmental journalists, advocates, scientists, and researchers - actions that undermine climate efforts and jeopardize societal stability.

According to Charlotte Scaddan, Senior Adviser on Information Integrity at the United Nations, COP30 represents the greatest opportunity to date to discuss the issue. “At this conference, information has been more visible than ever before. More, I believe, than at any other COP. And the declaration we are launching today on information integrity and climate change marks a potentially decisive moment for establishing this topic as a central area of climate action,” she observed.

The declaration emphasizes that mobilizing all sectors of society requires access to consistent, reliable, accurate, and evidence-based information about climate change. It also underscores the need to raise awareness, foster public participation, enable accountability, and build public trust in urgent climate policies and actions.

Key Commitments

The signatory nations commit to promoting the integrity of information related to climate change, in accordance with international human rights law, including standards on freedom of expression. They also pledge to support the sustainability of a diverse and resilient media ecosystem to ensure accurate and reliable coverage of climate and environmental issues.

Among the commitments are the inclusion of information integrity goals within the Action for Climate Empowerment agenda under the UNFCCC and the promotion of informed and inclusive climate action, ensuring equitable access to accurate, evidence-based, and understandable information for all. Finally, the declaration calls for strengthened cooperation and capacity-building to address threats to information integrity and protect those who report and conduct research on climate-related issues.

The document also urges the private sector to commit to information integrity in its business practices and to ensure transparent and responsible advertising practices in line with human rights principles such as strengthening information integrity and supporting reliable journalism.

Global Fund Supports First Projects

Since its launch in June 2025, the Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change has received 447 project proposals from nearly 100 countries. With initial funding of USD 1 million from the Government of Brazil, the Fund has begun supporting its first round of projects across several continents, with nearly two-thirds of eligible proposals originating from the Global South.

The declaration recognizes the central role of the Global Initiative in strengthening international cooperation to uphold the integrity of climate-related information and calls on donors to contribute to the Global Fund and support projects that advance information integrity at the local, national, and international levels.