Over the last few years, we’ve seen a huge surge in misinformation exploiting uncertainty around climate change. As it sweeps across fake news websites and social media platforms, the climate crisis continues to be subjected to a significant spread of fabricated stories and conspiracy theories.
These are fuelled by climate deniers, conspiracy theorists and misguided individuals often with a corporate or political agenda, perpetuating misinformation as the truth. Once people have read it, they often share it. This could have a damaging impact on our ability to solve what is fast becoming an ecological emergency.
While we have clear targets in place, the UK is to meet net-zero emissions targets by 2050, the EU to make cuts of 55 per cent, compared with 1990 levels, and the US to reduce carbon emissions to 50-52 per cent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade, we still have a way to go.
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