Ahead of COP30, Brazil summit addresses climate disinformation

On Tuesday, Brazil hosted the Climate Information Integrity Summit, featuring over 20 speakers from government, international organisations and civil society to address the state of — and concrete action against — climate disinformation, as Brazil prepares to host COP30 later this year. 

Advertised as a crucial step to establish the country’s climate leadership, the event highlighted the urgency of “strengthening climate information integrity, particularly as the country prepares to host COP30 in November.”

“We have been working non-stop to advance concrete action on information integrity and climate change,” Nina Santos, special advisor at the Secretariat of Social Communication said.

Reiterating the country’s commitment to the agenda, Santos announced the March 26th launch of the national chapter of the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, spearheaded by Brazil on the global stage and co-chaired by the UN and UNESCO. 

The summit addressed the so-called climate disinformation economy, its increasingly sophisticated content and its consequences for climate policy. “Climate disinformation is designed to delay action and sabotage cooperation precisely when the world needs unity most,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said.

While Ahmed acknowledged “widespread recognition of the problem” and the existence of “an array of solutions around the world,” he called for a global community of practice and for governments to convene their voices and allow them to be heard. “Let’s not always give the microphone to the biggest assholes on the planet,” he said.

Key takeaways

Jake Dubbins, co-chair of the Conscious Advertising Network, one of the event’s organisers, summarised the summit’s conclusions in five key takeaways.

“Firstly, information integrity is a foundational prerequisite, not only for climate action, but also for human rights, democracy and freedom of speech,” he said.

Dubbins went on to highlight the role of policymakers in fostering transparency and accountability among media, social media and technology companies. He emphasised their responsibility to enact policies focused on protecting information integrity, individual rights and preventing the manipulation of political discourse through disinformation.

“It is also urgent to protect climate defenders, scientists, Indigenous peoples and journalists, who are facing immense pressure and threats due to the proliferation of climate disinformation,” he said.

While guests from the advertising sector urged to be seen as a possible ally, Dubbins called on the industry to step up to their responsibilities and demand transparency to better understand their own supply chains and counter financing disinformation and hate.

The main takeaway, however, was that COP30 represents a global opportunity for proper multilateral cooperation on information integrity.

For Ahmed, real freedom demands informed citizens, and the upcoming climate conference must address it directly. “As Brazil hosts COP30, it can lead not only in policy, but also in courage.”