Who’s Fueling Climate Disinformation—Politicians, Oil, and Russia Revealed.

New Report Uncovers Forces Behind Worldwide Climate Denial

Primary Actors Behind the Movement

• Political Figures – leveraging policy openings and public statements to cast doubt on climate science.
• Fossil‑Fuel Interests – channeling resources into campaigns that question scientific consensus.
• Foreign States – promoting agendas that keep climate action stalled and sustain vested interests abroad.

The study details how these groups collaborate, using media influence, strategic lobbying, and international alliances to slow global environmental progress. The findings emphasize the need for transparent policy and stricter oversight to counteract this coordinated misinformation effort.

Climate Disinformation Landscape in Europe

Recent years have seen Europe grappling with extreme weather: heavy rains, droughts, relentless winters, and scorching heatwaves. Greece recorded record‑high temperatures this summer, while Portugal and Spain are battling widespread fires.

Scientists confirm that human activity drives current climate changes, yet denialism and related disinformation thrive across digital platforms worldwide.

Key Findings from the IPIE Report

The International Panel on Information Environment (IPIE) highlights several prominent actors behind disinformation:

• Individuals linked to the oil industry – financial motivations and vested interests.
• Political figures and right‑wing groups – shaping narratives to align with ideological goals.
• Certain national actors, notably Russia, whose media outlets spread coordinated misinformation.

Shift from Hard Denial to Subtle Manipulation

Anna Siewiorek, climate communication expert at the Climate&Strategy Foundation, notes that disinformation is moving away from outright “hard climate denial.”

Instead, more nuanced tactics are emerging. According to journalist Szymon Bujalski, even government representatives are occasionally employing deceptive messaging to influence public opinion.

Implications for European Public Discourse

These developments underscore the growing challenge of countering misinformation. Transparent communication, critical media literacy, and robust fact‑checking mechanisms become crucial in safeguarding public understanding of climate science.

Where is climate misinformation coming from?

Report Uncovers Key Actors Behind Climate Disinformation

The analysis, which examined 300 studies published over the past decade, identified several groups and individuals that play a pivotal role in spreading false or misleading information about climate science.

Primary Sources of Misinformation

• Corporate and Fossil‑Fuel Interests: Companies linked to the oil and gas sectors have been found to disseminate narratives that undermine established climate science.
• Right‑Wing Politicians: Political figures in the United States and Europe—most notably Donald Trump, the AfD party in Germany, Vox in Spain, and the National Rally in France—have frequently promoted positions that contradict the scientific consensus on climate change.
• State‑Sponsored Operations and Troll Farms: The report cites evidence of organized efforts, including so‑called “Russian troll farms,” that use social media platforms such as X to circulate anti‑scientific and pseudo‑scientific content.
• Think Tanks and Public‑Relations Firms: Organizations like the Heartland Institute and the Cato Institute appear to support corporate agendas by producing and distributing misleading analyses.
• Media Outlets and Automated Bots: Both traditional and digital media, along with automated bot networks, contribute heavily to the amplification of disinformation.

Each of these entities employs distinct strategies to influence public perception, according to the compiled studies.

Disinformation strategies in climate narratives

Disinformation Strategies Targeting Climate Policy: A Global Overview

Corporate Narratives From the Fossil‑Fuel Sector

• Ideological denial – rejecting the fundamental drivers of climate change.
• Green‑washing – creating a façade of environmental responsibility.
• Reification of the status quo – treating existing practices as inevitable and necessary.

Political Tactics Across Nations

Right‑wing politicians tend to question the effectiveness, cost and fairness of climate solutions. However, their framing varies by country:

• In Germany, the AfD’s position leans toward complete denial of climate change.
• In France, NR adopts an opportunistic strategy, shifting its stance to match circumstances and invoking “sovereignty” to link climate concerns with national culture.

Despite these differences, the rhetoric across parties often glorifies the “past” of rural, local lifestyles.

Polish Context: A Shift From Explicit Denial to Subtle Disinformation

Recent findings from the International Panel on the Information Environment indicate that Poland is moving away from outright climate denial. New approaches now aim to erode the perceived legitimacy of climate measures:

• Climate policy is framed as a threat to economic security and national identity.
• The European Union is portrayed as an external force imposing unfavorable solutions.
• Energy transitions are linked to rising prices and systemic instability.

Russian‑Belarusian Campaigns and the “Cognitive Warfare” Narrative

According to the Polish Disinformation Team, early 2025 there was a coordinated campaign by Russian and Belarusian actors targeting Poland:

• The goal is to weaken public support for the energy transition.
• Falsehoods are used to manipulate messaging about EU climate and energy policies.

Donald Trump as a Disinformation Actor

Trump’s administration also promoted the narrative that climate change is a political “hoax,” further fueling misinformation.

Impact on Emergency Alerts and Public Trust

• Conspiracies surrounding extreme weather spread more quickly than life‑saving alerts on social media.
• Such misinformation hampers timely evacuation and preparedness efforts.

Mining regions are more likely to accept anti-climate narratives

Understanding Climate Denial in Coal‑Rich Communities

Key Findings of the Recent Report

• The study indicates that regions reliant on coal mining are particularly vulnerable to climate misinformation.
• It identifies several tactics used to undermine scientific consensus and influence public opinion.

Common Denial Strategies

• Credibility Challenge: Doubting the reliability of scientific research and institutions, and suggesting hidden agendas or errors by experts.
• Mass Disruption: Rapidly spreading skeptical content, especially through social media channels, with about 25% produced by automated bots.

Dual Deception

This approach blends climate science denial with greenwashing. Companies that promote environmentally friendly initiatives continue to rely on fossil fuels, masking their true impact.

Case Study: Poland

A 2023 assessment conducted by the Pole Dialogue Foundation, backed by the European Climate Foundation, highlighted the prevalence of anti‑climate narratives in Polish coal regions.

• Local sentiments often include statements such as “Poland can’t discard coal,” “Politicians will never act on climate issues,” and “Progress hinges on technology.”
• These beliefs are shaped by the historical importance of mining to the region’s identity and economy.

Emotional Persuasion

The research shows that the most effective misinformation leverages strong emotions. Emotional appeals tend to dominate, while factual accuracy is deemed less critical by the audience.

‘Climate denialism is effective for two reasons’

Climate Denial Tactics Gain Ground in Poland

Although hard climate denial has lost much of its traction, a new wave of disinformation continues to thrive. Journalist Szymon Bujalski explains that the strategy has evolved into a dual-faceted approach.

Modern Climate Denial – A Two‑Pronged Weapon

• Questioning Human Impact: The focus has shifted from denying climate change itself to challenging the extent of human responsibility.
• Scrutinizing Solutions: Instead of disputing the science, opponents attack proposed mitigation measures.

These tactics tap into deep emotional currents, enabling rapid viral spread across platforms. In a media environment that thrives on sensationalism and polarization, such messages resonate more than purely rational arguments.

Polish Politicians Join the Campaign

Bujalski reports that climate denial is no longer confined to external influences. Polish political actors themselves are now promoting these narratives. He notes:

“Power is paramount. To secure or defend it, politicians turn to disinformation—including climate myths. Consequently, both right‑wing factions and government officials are deploying these tactics.”

Implications for a Polarized Society

The diffusion of climate denial by domestic political groups signals a worrying trend: science is being leveraged as a battleground for political ambition. This situation underscores the urgent need for transparent, evidence‑based public discourse.