Case study 2: The HEAT report – Harmful Environmental Agendas and Tactics in France, Germany, and the Netherlands 6/7

Impact on climate action and adaptation

The disinformation narratives identified in the HEAT report directly undermine public support for climate action. By framing climate policies as authoritarian or elitist, they reduce willingness to engage with or accept environmental reforms. This polarisation makes it more difficult for governments to implement effective climate measures, including adaptation strategies needed to protect communities from the worsening effects of climate change.

In particular, the spread of misinformation about “climate lockdowns” and alleged conspiracies around weather control fuels scepticism not only toward mitigation efforts (like emissions reductions) but also toward adaptation policies, such as urban planning reforms, green infrastructure projects, and early warning systems. When people perceive such policies as part of a hidden agenda rather than a public good, implementation becomes politically and socially challenging.