“Without Truth, There’s No Climate Action, and Without Science, There’s No Truth”: TNGO Launches The Observatory on Climate Misinformation at COP29

An innovative and research-driven initiative by The New Global Order ETS, supported by Rethinking Climate, that promises more transparency and reliability in climate communication to enhance effective climate responses and actions.

ROME, 31 JANUARY 2025 – Addressing the urgent global need to combat climate misinformation and disinformation, The New Global Order, with the technical support of Rethinking Climate, has launched the Observatory on Climate Misinformation. Presented at UNFCCC COP29, the Observatory aspires to become a hub for transparent, reliable, and accurate scientific information. Its mission is to empower civil society and stakeholders such as organizations and media with the tools and knowledge to counter misinformation effectively.

Barbara Monticelli, PhD researcher specializing in climate negotiations and youth inclusion at IULM University, and Vice-President of Rethinking Climate, emphasizes the importance of this initiative: “Despite youth being often labeled as digital natives, many of us actually lack the media literacy skills required to navigate misinformation effectively. Misinformation doesn’t just confuse—it discourages youth advocacy and risks disengagement. This is why we felt compelled to act.”

Inauguration of the Observatory on Climate Misinformation at COP29

But what are misinformation and disinformation, and how risky are they?
Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information spread without intent to deceive, while disinformation involves the deliberate creation and dissemination of falsehoods to manipulate public opinion. These tools are central to climate obstruction strategies, which hinder climate action through denial, delay, or deflection.

According to the Global Risks Report (2024), misinformation and disinformation are among the greatest short-term threats to human society. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledged for the first time in 2022 that climate misinformation “has contributed to misperceptions of the scientific consensus, uncertainty, disregarded risk and urgency, and dissent.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also underscored the need to tackle coordinated disinformation campaigns, which obstruct progress through denial, greenwashing, and harassment of climate scientists.

“The Observatory has been created to bring back science at the center, unmask falsities, and share tools to orient people in a world that is disorienting,” says Stefano Cisternino, Scientific Communicator at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and Director of the Observatory on Climate Misinformation. “Working in an international environment, I’ve witnessed how deeply fake news has seeped into our systems and minds. Climate misinformation doesn’t just confuse—it condemns, distorting international cooperation and weakening our ability to respond. Just as science steps up in crises, it must also confront this threat. Without truth, there’s no climate action, and without science, there’s no truth.”

Tackling Misinformation with Research and Action

To address these challenges, the Observatory applies mechanisms like debunking (correcting misinformation after it spreads) and prebunking (proactively preparing audiences to resist manipulative narratives). Its core objectives include:

• Debunking fake news;
• Developing practical toolkits for civil society and media;
• Conducting rigorous research on misinformation;
• Offering training programs to combat disinformation;
• Promoting engaging, science-based content.

This initiative recognizes that restoring trust in climate communication is not just a technical challenge—it is a societal imperative.

A Call to Action

By utilizing scientific and academic expertise to deliver evidence-based solutions, standardized methodologies, and innovative tools, the Observatory on Climate Misinformation aims to set a new standard for tackling one of the greatest challenges of our time: restoring trust in climate communication and paving the way for informed, effective global action.

Media contact: press@thenewglobalorder.com