Case Study 3: EEAS and NATO report – Climate disinformation as a tool of FIMI 5/6

Amplification tactics

The spread of climate-related FIMI involves both traditional and digital channels. Russian state-controlled outlets such as RT and Sputnik serve as primary vehicles for these narratives. From there, content is amplified through social media—often with the help of coordinated bot networks and accounts designed to look like ordinary users. This digital activity is bolstered by aligning disinformation with pre-existing conspiracy communities or populist political groups, allowing messages to travel further and faster.

In some cases, the manipulation goes beyond messaging. Cyber operations targeting environmental data or infrastructure—highlighted in the NATO report—further aim to disrupt the credibility of scientific or policy institutions. This fusion of digital, political, and media tactics makes climate disinformation a multidimensional threat.