A platform for tracking and analysing false climate narratives, jointly run by The New Global Order and Rethinking Climate. Launched at COP29 in Baku, the Observatory supports science based climate communication through targeted research, practical resources and media training for journalists, students and civil society groups.
About the project
The Observatory on Climate Misinformation examines how misleading and false narratives shape public debate, delay climate action and erode trust in science. It was launched at COP29 by The New Global Order with the support of Rethinking Climate in response to concerns about the reliability of climate communication.
The project brings together researchers, journalists, educators and civil society groups to document how climate misinformation works, track its main narratives and test ways to limit its impact on public debate. Through analysis, public engagement and training, the Observatory develops resources that can be used in classrooms, newsrooms and public institutions.
The Observatory works along three main lines:
- Monitoring narratives
Tracking recurring climate misinformation themes across media, campaigns and public debate. - Public engagement
Publishing articles, interviews and explainers that unpack misleading claims and highlight under reported perspectives. - Capacity building
Developing workshops and educational materials that help journalists, students and activists respond to climate misinformation in their own contexts.
The Observatory produces articles, analyses and reports to help protect informed public debate and accountability around climate action.
Our Team
The Observatory is run by a group of researchers, journalists, educators and climate advocates working across different regions and disciplines. The team coordinates research activities, designs workshops and educational materials and builds partnerships with media outlets, civil society organisations and institutions.
Stefano Cisternino
Cecilia Consalvo
Roberta Bosu
Lisa Korir
Nina Tea Zibetti
Community of Practice
The Community of practice gathers people who write, research and reflect on climate misinformation, decolonisation and climate justice from different backgrounds. Some work in academia or the media. Others are students, writers or readers. All share an interest in how public knowledge is produced, challenged and defended.
The platform allows contributors to:
- connect with others across regions and languages
- suggest readings and resources
- share short articles, blog posts or interviews
- join workshops and discussions
To join the Community of practice or suggest a contribution, use the form below. Submissions can include short texts, curated links or resource lists. Contributions are reviewed before publication to keep the platform focused and reliable.
Repository
The Repository is a shared archive of content exploring the causes, impacts, and responses to climate misinformation.
- The New Climate War – Michael E. Mann (Language: EN). A climate scientist’s exposé of the modern tactics used to delay climate action. Mann outlines how obfuscation, deflection, and “doomism” have replaced outright denial, and he calls for countering these tactics through policy, communication, and collective action. (No free digital version available.)
- Merchants of Doubt – Naomi Oreskes & Erik M. Conway (Language: EN). A seminal work documenting how a small group of scientists and advisors systematically sowed doubt about well-established scientific facts. The book traces campaigns that obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to climate change, revealing the deliberate tactics used to mislead the public. (No free digital version available.)
- Climate Cover-Up – James Hoggan (with Richard Littlemore) (Language: EN). An investigation into the public relations strategies that created the illusion of doubt about climate change. This book details how fossil fuel interests funded think-tanks, fake grassroots groups, and contrarian spokespeople to confuse the public and delay policy changes. (No free digital version available.)
- The Climate Misinformation Crisis – Tushar Choudhary (Language: EN). A recent book exploring common misconceptions about climate change and how they spread. It provides readers with tools to recognise misleading information and discusses ways to move public discourse towards scientifically informed, solution-focused conversations. (No free digital version available.)
- Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change – John Cook (Language: EN). A cartoon-illustrated guide that uses humour and psychology to explain climate science and debunk common climate myths. Based on research into misinformation, it teaches readers how to spot fallacies and argue back using facts, making climate communication more accessible. (No free digital version available.)
- A fuoco. Crisi climatica e disinformazione – edited by Simone Fontana (Language: IT). An Italian-language anthology born from a fact-checking project, examining why climate science is often contested in the media. Through contributions from 18 experts, the book addresses frequent questions and false claims about the climate crisis, clarifying what is known and dispelling prevalent myths. (No free digital version available.)
“Disinformation as an obstructionist strategy in climate change mitigation: a review of the scientific literature for a systemic understanding of the phenomenon” – Manuel Gertrudix et al., Open Research Europe (2024, Language: EN). A systematic literature review of 75 studies (2019–2023) examining climate-related misinformation and disinformation. It finds many studies focus on technical fixes (like fact-checking and inoculation) but few analyse the financial and political networks underpinning organised climate denial. The authors emphasise the need for more global and interdisciplinary research into the complex systems that perpetuate climate disinformation. Direct PDF (open access)
“The new denial: climate solution misinformation on social media” – Emily Nicolosi et al., Global Sustainability (Cambridge University Press) (2025, Language: EN). A peer-reviewed study highlighting a shift in climate misinformation. Instead of denying climate change outright, new narratives increasingly attack climate solutions and those who support them. By analysing over 200,000 social media posts (2021–2023), the authors show that these “solution denial” claims often invoke far-right talking points, falsely portray renewable energy and policies as ineffective or harmful, and vilify climate activists. Direct Article (open access)
“Understanding climate change conspiracy beliefs: A comparative outlook” – Daniel Stockemer & Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau, HKS Misinformation Review (2024, Language: EN). This research note reports on an eight-country survey about the belief that climate change is a hoax. It finds that such conspiracy beliefs are present worldwide (with 10–25% agreement in Western countries and up to 24% elsewhere). Key predictors of climate conspiracy thinking include right-wing political ideology, populist attitudes, distrust in scientists, and younger age – with some national variation. The study underscores how political factors outweigh demographics in explaining climate denialist views across different cultures. Direct PDF (open access)
“Deny, Deceive, Delay: Documenting and Responding to Climate Disinformation at COP26 and Beyond” – Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) & Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition (2022, Language: EN). This report (often cited simply as Deny, Deceive, Delay) is a comprehensive analysis of climate disinformation trends observed around the COP26 climate summit. It identifies a core network of actors and online accounts that drive false narratives – from claims that climate change is a hoax to subtler “delay” discourses that acknowledge warming but argue against urgent action. The report also recommends practical steps for policymakers, social media platforms, and civil society to curb the spread of climate falsehoods. Direct PDF (open access)
“Climate Change Misinformation in the United States: An Actor–Network Analysis” – Neelam Thapa Magar et al., Journal of Media (2024, Language: EN). An academic case study focusing on how climate misinformation operates in the U.S. public sphere. Using actor–network theory, it examines the relationships between various players – from industry lobbies and media outlets to social media influencers – that work to propagate misleading climate narratives. The paper provides insight into the sociological and communicative mechanisms that allow climate falsehoods to persist in public discourse. Direct PDF (open access)
Merchants of Doubt (Documentary Film, 2014) – Language: EN. A documentary inspired by the Oreskes/Conway book, in which journalists and scientists expose how professional PR consultants and lobbyists cloud public understanding of scientific facts. The film delves into the tactics of spin employed on issues like tobacco and climate change, with compelling interviews (including a memorable look at a “magician” lobbyist who expertly tricks the public). (Available on various streaming platforms, not freely online.)
Greedy Lying Bastards (Documentary Film, 2012) – Language: EN. An investigative film that follows the money behind climate change denial. It examines the roles of oil companies, front groups, and politicians in blocking climate policy and confusing the public. Through interviews and case studies (like communities already impacted by climate extremes), the documentary links the campaign of misinformation to real-world consequences and corporate greed. (Available on DVD/streaming, not freely online.)
The Doubt Machine: Inside the Koch Brothers’ War on Climate Science (Documentary Short, 2016) – Language: EN. A 30-minute film, narrated by Emma Thompson, revealing how billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch funded efforts to discredit climate science. It features climate scientist Michael E. Mann and journalist Jane Mayer, who recount personal attacks and harassment they faced. The documentary connects the dots between the Koch network’s funding and the spread of climate denial in politics and the media. Watch via The Real News Network (free online)
Climate of Doubt (PBS Frontline, 2012) – Language: EN. A television documentary that investigates the organised campaign which shifted US public opinion against climate action around the late 2000s. Frontline reporter John Hockenberry interviews key players in the climate denial movement. The programme details how think tanks, contrarian scientists, and political operatives effectively reframed climate change from a scientific fact to a polarising “debate,” impacting election outcomes and stalling legislation. PBS Synopsis (video may require PBS access)
Denial101x – Making Sense of Climate Science Denial (Online Course Videos, 2015) – Language: EN. A series of short educational videos produced by the University of Queensland, designed as a Massive Open Online Course. Featuring climate scientists and communicators, the videos each tackle a common myth about climate change (e.g. “global warming stopped in 1998” or “climate change is natural”) and explain the science in plain terms. They also unveil the rhetorical techniques (like cherry-picking and fake experts) used to mislead audiences. All lectures and interviews are freely available to watch on YouTube. View on YouTube (free online)
Drilled – hosted by Amy Westervelt (Language: EN). An award-winning investigative podcast series that treats the climate misinformation saga as a true-crime story. Since 2018, Drilled has explored how oil and gas companies, PR firms, and allied politicians constructed and perpetuated the climate denial machine. Episodes delve into historical documents (like industry memos) and feature expert interviews, revealing the strategies used to stall climate action – from propaganda campaigns to harassing scientists. Official Website (free listening)
Hot Take – hosted by Mary Annaïse Heglar & Amy Westervelt (Language: EN). A podcast (2019–2023) offering a frank and witty look at climate change in the media and popular culture. The hosts, a climate justice essayist and an investigative journalist, discuss how climate news is framed and often distorted. They call out misinformation and greenwashing, and chat with journalists and experts about improving climate storytelling. (Episodes remain available on podcast platforms.) Official Site (free access to archives)
“How is climate misinformation evolving?” – The Climate Question (BBC World Service) (Language: EN). A 2023 episode from the BBC’s climate issues podcast, examining new trends in misinformation. It highlights that modern climate falsehoods go beyond denial – including spreading confusion about solutions or exaggerating economic fears. The show features experts like climate disinformation researchers and BBC’s fact-checking reporters who explain how misleading narratives spread on social media and what can be done to counter them. Listen via BBC (free streaming)
Sounding the Alarm on Climate Misinformation – Stop Funding Heat (Language: EN). A podcast mini-series produced by the UK-based organisation Stop Funding Heat, which campaigns to demonetise climate denial. Across its episodes (2022–2023), activists and analysts trace where online climate misinformation comes from and why it proliferates. They discuss topics such as advertising that promotes fossil fuels, loopholes in social media policies, and the impact of high-profile climate sceptic influencers. Each episode also explores solutions – from policy interventions to pressure campaigns – aimed at curbing climate falsehoods. Spotify Link (free listening)
Böll Europe Podcast: “Overheated – how climate misinformation goes viral on social media” – Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung EU Office & EU DisinfoLab (Language: EN). A 33-minute podcast episode (September 2023) featuring a panel discussion on the weaponisation of climate falsehoods in online spaces. Hosted from Brussels, it brings together experts Jennie King (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) and Ana Romero-Vicente (EU DisinfoLab) to discuss the role of platforms like X (Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok in amplifying denial and delay narratives. The conversation covers the culture-war framing of climate issues, identifies key actors behind viral misinformation, and reviews how new regulations (like the EU’s Digital Services Act) could improve the situation. Episode Page (free online)
“When climate misinformation turns dangerous” – Living Planet (Deutsche Welle) (Language: EN). A radio podcast episode (2025) exploring the real-world harms caused by climate conspiracy theories and denial. In this 24-minute segment of Living Planet (an environmental show), reporters discuss how online climate lies have fuelled hate speech and extremist movements. The episode includes interviews illustrating how people’s trust in science is undermined and how that can spill into violence or harassment (for example, against climate scientists or advocates). It also asks experts about strategies to build resilience against conspiracy thinking. Listen on YouTube (free online)
Articles and Press
Updates, interviews, and public contributions related to climate misinformation, narrative framing, and the Observatory’s work. Explore the Observatory’s latest articles below.
The world appears to be unraveling at the seams, and there is a need to pierce the veil of ideology so as to render these conspiracies less influential, to deal in the world of the real. There would seemingly be no panacea for these multi-faceted crises, but a good place to start would be our political-economy.
Continue Reading (Analysis) Down and Out of Power in Iberia: Conspiracy as Ideology
TNGO launches the Observatory on Climate Misinformation at COP29, an innovative and research-driven initiative, supported by Rethinking Climate, that promises more transparency and reliability in climate communication to enhance effective climate responses and actions.