Australia joins global initiative against climate misinformation

Australia has become the 27th country, besides the European Union, to join the international effort to combat climate disinformation. The membership was announced after a meeting between Australian and Pacific climate and energy ministers, held in Sydney to discuss priorities on the climate and energy agenda, reports the National Tribune.

The objective of the initiative is to investigate, expose and combat disinformation campaigns related to climate change, in addition to expanding the dissemination of research on the topic. The movement's declaration was launched last November in Belém during COP30 and was initially joined by 18 countries.

The adoption of the information integrity agenda at COP30 represented an important political signal in defense of quality information, the protection of climate science and the need to expose private interests, especially those of large digital platforms and the advertising industry, involved in the dissemination of irresponsible content.

Structured around a global fund, an institutional agenda and campaigns on climate change, the initiative aims to support public policies aimed at protecting the integrity of information, the safety of journalists and communicators who cover the climate agenda and the strengthening of global climate action based on reliable information.

"Australia's adherence to the Global Initiative and the Declaration is timely and very welcome. It reinforces the momentum around the topic, started at COP30, chaired by Brazil, where the integrity of information received unprecedented recognition, towards COP31, where we hope it will continue to attract the attention and support of several countries, civil society, Academia and the private sector", said the Secretary of Digital Policies of the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil, João Brant.