HEAT Project Findings on Climate Disinformation

This report is a comprehensive analysis of the HEAT (Harmful Environmental Agendas & Tactics) project, which investigates climate-related misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation (MDM) across Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The project aims to map the evolution of climate-related narratives within these countries, which were selected for their diversity in linguistic, political, and media systems. The report outlines how false narratives about climate change are propagated and adapted across digital platforms, undermining trust in scientific and democratic processes. It identifies four key pillars of climate disinformation: Conspiracy Milieu, Culture War and Partisan Discourse, Hostile State Actors, and Big Oil-aligned Campaigns. The findings reveal that conspiratorial narratives are prevalent and resonate widely, often transcending political divides. The report calls for EU institutions to recognize climate disinformation as a systemic risk under the Digital Services Act, emphasizing the need for accountability among major online platforms. It also provides a foundation for future research and targeted responses to climate disinformation in Europe.