The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change has launched an international Call to Action — also known as the Mutirão — to identify and amplify tangible initiatives that uphold the integrity of climate-related information and counter disinformation. Supported by the COP30 Presidency, this initiative seeks proposals from governments, civil society, academia, public and private institutions, and international organizations. Selected proposals will be featured in the official programme of COP30, set to take place in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The submission deadline is 31 August 2025.
This effort forms part of the Global Action Agenda spearheaded by the COP30 Brazilian Presidency and marks the first time information integrity has been formally included in the COP agenda. The initiative underscores the urgent need to address the growing influence of climate disinformation, which threatens to derail public understanding and global efforts toward climate action. As climate scientists continue to warn of diminishing time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, strengthening public trust in climate science and policy is seen as critical.
The Global Initiative, launched during the 2024 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, is a coalition that includes the UN, UNESCO, UNFCCC, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, France, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and civil society organizations. It aims to develop a coordinated global response to the rise of disinformation tactics — from outright denial and greenwashing to attacks on climate scientists — which have been identified as significant obstacles to climate progress.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay both emphasized the role of the initiative in combating coordinated disinformation campaigns and in supporting frontline actors like journalists and researchers. Azoulay also noted the dangers faced by professionals reporting on climate issues, particularly in the age of social media-driven misinformation.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has acknowledged the damaging effects of climate disinformation, which contribute to confusion, downplay risk, and delay urgent action. Similarly, the first-ever UN Global Risk Report named mis- and disinformation as the top global vulnerability, highlighting its impact across regions and sectors, including the environment.
The Mutirão encourages contributions in key areas such as research on disinformation, media and data transparency, digital literacy, climate communication strategies, environmental journalism, and tools that promote information integrity. In addition to proposing actions, stakeholders are invited to support the Global Fund for Climate Information Integrity, managed by UNESCO, to help scale effective solutions worldwide.
Submissions will be reviewed by the Steering Committee and Advisory Group of the Global Initiative. Selected contributions may be incorporated into the COP30 Global Climate Action Agenda, which aims to consolidate practical and scalable strategies for international climate governance.
COP30 CEO Ana Toni stressed the dangers of disinformation in undermining trust in multilateralism and international climate commitments like the Paris Agreement. Similarly, Frederico Assis, Special Envoy for Information Integrity at COP30, warned that disinformation weakens the credibility of climate negotiations and disproportionately harms vulnerable populations, especially in the Global South. Both emphasized that ensuring information integrity is not merely a technical requirement but a moral imperative to protect the future of humanity.
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