Medical professionals have a responsibility to lead the fight against climate misinformation to ensure that the public is well informed about the health risks posed by climate change, say experts in The BMJ . Misinformation (inaccurate information spread without malicious intent) and disinformation (deliberately deceptive information) in health is not new, write Professor Andy Haines and colleagues. Just as the rapid spread of false information during the COVID-19 pandemic undermined public trust in science and public health interventions, false information also pervades the climate change debate, influencing public perception and policy.
The World Health Organization has identified climate change as the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century, but the public's understanding of this threat is often clouded by conflicting narratives. Common myths include the belief that climate change is a hoax designed to push political agendas, a natural phenomenon unaffected by human activity, or that the risks are exaggerated, they explain. "Disinformation activities, often supported by fossil fuel interests, propagate these myths, impeding efforts to mobilize public support for necessary policy changes," they add.
Social media platforms have also become major conduits for health-related climate disinformation. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly misinformation could escalate into a global health crisis. Similar dynamics are at play with climate change, where misinformati.