The United Nations sees two major global challenges converging: the erosion of the information ecosystem and the climate crisis. Tackling them requires a broad coalition, from governments and technology companies to civil society and academia. This was the UN’s message at the “Climate & Information Integrity” session at Belgium’s SDG Forum on 13 October.
“AI is speeding up content creation with few guardrails. Tactics against climate action include harassment of scientists and journalists, targeting policymakers, and algorithms that push people into polarised echo chambers,” said Sherri Aldis of the UN Department of Global Communications.
With COP31 a month away, the forum’s expert panel, the biggest multi-stakeholder forum on the SDGs in the Benelux, argued that protecting climate information requires an all-encompassing approach. This includes social media, newsrooms, the advertising sector, and the stories that never get covered at all.
The UN view: everyone has a role
The UN’s Global Principles for Information Integrity set out five areas for action to promote information integrity: societal trust, media literacy, public empowerment, independent and pluralistic media, and transparency and research. These principles are intended for all actors in the information sector, from media, social media platforms, tech companies and advertisers to civil society, academia, governments, and the UN itself.
Aldis also highlighted the UN’s specific work with advertisers and repeated the UN Secretary-General’s call for a ban on fossil fuel advertising.
The UN’s climate-specific tools are growing too. Belgium is among the members of the UN Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, and the Belém Declaration on information integrity and climate change, launched at last year’s UN Climate Conference (COP30), gives countries a way to commit publicly. Sherri Aldis encouraged more Member States to join, adding that “growing interest in the risks of AI makes COP31 in Antalya a real chance to build on that momentum”.
The Belgian view: coverage is opportunity
Amandine Sauvage of QuotaClimat presented results from the Belgian Barometer of Environmental Information, a research into how Belgian media cover environmental and climate issues.
The Barometer tracks 26 French- and Dutch-language news channels. Environmental topics took 5.4% of airtime on national French-language media and 2.3% on Dutch-language media between February and August 2026, roughly doubling during summer heatwaves.
“According to the Eurobarometer Social Media Survey 2025, two-thirds of respondents rely on TV, radio, and newspapers to stay informed about social and political current affairs,” Sauvage noted.
QuotaClimat is analysing disinformation narratives in various countries. Sauvage warned not only about disinformation but also about a lack of coverage and polarised framing, where scientists must defend scientific facts.
Her recommendations were concrete: train journalists to spot new forms of climate obstruction, ensure daily and consistent coverage, and put accountability mechanisms in place. She also pointed to the value of presenting a complete overview of the climate issue, from causes to accountability and solutions.
The psychological view: prepare people
Miriam Remshard, PhD fellow in psychology and lab manager at the University of Cambridge, focused on climate change communication and public perceptions. She looked at common misconceptions, from the value of electric cars and the benefits of a vegan diet to the impact of long-haul flights.
To counter incorrect information, her research points to debunking and prebunking. “Debunking is not always effective, as corrections often don’t go viral, and some of the false information sticks,” Remshard said. Her research also analysed how various AI large language models (LLMs) respond to people’s climate questions and trained them to provide accurate information about people’s personal choices.
Solutions
In the Q&A with the audience, panellists suggested solutions-focused storytelling, personal testimonies, citizens contacting media regulators, and the UN’s journalist briefings as practical ways forward.
They each shared concrete actions that each person can take: pause before you share, check your sources, support independent media, and back the scientists and journalists sharing fact-based information.
The session, “Climate & information integrity”, was co-hosted by the UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) and the Belgian FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, and moderated by Marian Blondeel, UNRIC’s communication officer for the Benelux countries.