Case study 2: The HEAT report – Harmful Environmental Agendas and Tactics in France, Germany, and the Netherlands 2/7

Key narratives

One of the most persistent narratives across all three countries involved conspiracy theories about weather manipulation. These claims suggest that governments or powerful elites are using tools such as HAARP or geo-engineering to control the climate. Although scientifically baseless, such conspiracies attract large audiences by appealing to distrust in institutions.

Another dominant theme frames climate action as a form of political control. Phrases like “climate lockdowns” or “climate communism” suggest that environmental policies are not about sustainability but about restricting freedoms. This narrative is particularly dangerous because it taps into broader culture war dynamics, positioning climate policy as part of a larger ideological struggle.