Case studies

This section presents real examples of climate change disinformation campaigns. Each case shows how a false or misleading narrative was created, who spread it, and what impact it had. The aim is to help learners understand how disinformation works in practice and how it can influence public opinion and policy.

The first study is based on report published by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN). This report analyse disinformation campaigns that were widely shared across different countries and platforms. They focus on recurring narratives, the actors involved, and the communication channels used to spread false information.

The second case study is based on a report by EU DisinfoLab and Logically. It examines how climate disinformation spread across France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The report focuses on conspiracy theories, anti-climate narratives, and foreign influence efforts that reframed climate policies as authoritarian and eroded public trust in environmental action.

The third case study combines insights from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and NATO. It explores how climate-related disinformation is used as part of broader foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) efforts. These campaigns aim not only to mislead but also to divide societies and weaken trust in democratic institutions.

Together, these examples offer a deeper understanding of how climate disinformation spreads, who drives it, and how it affects society.