Have you ever seen a misleading post claiming heat pumps are “a scam,” or a screenshot insisting EVs are worse for the environment than gas cars? Maybe it was a video clip that felt convincing, until you realized it was edited or taken out of context. These examples of misinformation matter because they directly influence how people weigh risk and assess credibility when making critical decisions about purchases or behaviors. A single false claim can stop someone from calling a solar installer for a quote or make them completely write off legitimate emissions data. Even when these misleading snippets seem minor, they add up over time. Together, they create a fog of confusion and distrust that makes factual climate solutions feel controversial, risky, or unreliable.
That is where climate misinformation and disinformation come in. Whether it is misinformation (misunderstood data) or disinformation (deliberate false claims), they are both incredibly damaging because they erode public trust and slow down critical progress.
False and misleading climate claims are not always obvious. They often show up in subtle forms that sound reasonable at first. One common example is climate delay messaging. This tactic acknowledges climate change but pushes the idea that solutions are too expensive, unfair, or unrealistic, avoiding a course of action. The recent book Climate Obstruction: A Global Assessment (October 2025), edited by J. Timmons Roberts et al., provides a comprehensive overview of how industries, politicians, and media have all used climate delay to deny climate action.
Greenwashing is another example where companies present themselves as sustainable through vague branding while avoiding real change. Finally, conspiracy-style narratives try to discredit science and activists by framing climate action as a hidden agenda. These tactics are designed to blend in, they can easily slip past our radar, making it feel impossible to know what to trust.
Anyone can build a strong defense against false climate claims by following a few fundamental steps:
- Check if the claim comes from a reputable news outlet or a peer-reviewed study instead of an unbacked blog.
- Cross-reference the data with multiple trusted sources or use dedicated fact-checkers.
- Rely on established scientific bodies, like the IPCC, to corroborate big claims.
- Counter false narratives by sharing evidence-based facts using simple language and relatable examples.
Understanding these steps are critical, but it is only half the battle. We also have to recognize why false claims spread so easily, so we can cut them off at the source. There is so much information online, and our brains rely on “mental shortcuts” to make quick, automatic judgments about what to believe without getting overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, social media platforms take advantage of these quick judgments. We are wired to trust a post simply because it uses confident language, boasts “expert” credentials, or has thousands of likes and shares. We often accept these visual cues as proof of credibility, even if the underlying information is completely fabricated. Algorithms reward this kind of viral engagement over actual accuracy, creating echo chambers where misleading narratives travel much faster than the truth. To truly protect our communities, we have to move beyond basic fact-checking and learn how to dismantle the psychological tricks that make these claims so convincing. This is much easier said than done, however.
If you are interested in what you can do to combat this kind of misinformation, MassEnergize is hosting a breakout session on “Identifying and Combating Climate Misinformation” at the 2026 Community Climate Leaders Conference. Led by Laura Gardner, a National Board Certified Teacher in Library Media, this breakout is designed for leaders who are tired of misinformation derailing real conversations. The session will tackle how to spot AI-manipulated content and, most importantly, how to respond when false claims come from someone you know and care about. You will leave with actionable tools and scripts you can use the next time misinformation shows up in your community.
Learn more about this and other MassEnergize Community Climate Leaders Conference sessions at www.massenergize.org/annual-conference/.
Explore resources on climate misinformation and how to respond.
- What are climate misinformation and disinformation and how can we tackle them?
https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-are-climate-misinformation-and-disinformation-and-how-can-we-tackle-them - What makes us (unwittingly) share climate misinformation online?
https://hsph.harvard.edu/climate-health-c-change/news/what-makes-us-unwittingly-share-climate-misinformation-online/ - How to spot climate misinformation on social media
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/01/how-to-spot-climate-misinformation-on-social-media/ - Five short videos that debunk climate lies and falsehoods
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/12/five-short-videos-that-debunk-climate-lies-and-falsehoods/ - What to do when someone you love is spreading misinformation https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/12/what-to-do-when-someone-you-love-is-spreading-misinformation/
- What is misinformation & disinformation?
https://caad.info/what-is-misinformation-disinformation/
