On January 7th, 2026, Donald Trump explicitly the United States from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), along with 65 other organizations. His reasoning was that these organizations and treaties 鈥渘o longer serve American interests.鈥� This action is one of Trump鈥檚 many attacks on the integrity of climate change. This exit allows Trump to dangerously control the narrative of climate change in America, through his perpetuation of false information and the silencing of scientists.
Amidst this darkness, however, there may be a glimmer of light. In Bel茅m, Brazil last November, at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30, 13 countries鈥撯�� including Canada鈥撯�� signed The Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, calling for tangible steps towards dismantling structures promoting the spread of climate misinformation. Importantly, too, it outlines protections for environmental scientists and journalists who work to promote evidence-based climate change narratives. In a time where social media algorithms and tyrants spread false information, disarming denialist echo-chambers is an important first step towards dismantling these harmful spaces.
The highly anticipated COP30 marked 10 years since the negotiation of the landmark . Unfortunately, while some progress has been made, governments have yet to deliver their full end of the bargain. predict that based on the current policies in place, land surface temperatures will warm to about 2.6潞C by 2100. This, of course, is not the 鈥渓ess than 2潞C鈥� that was promised, and it certainly sheds light on how governments must do more to deliver on their promises. The Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, however, may be able to change this.
Rodrigo Fernandes, director of sustainability at Bentley Systems, the infrastructure engineering software company, attended COP30 and participated in panel discussions at the climate summit. He emphasized the critical need for 鈥済ood storytelling鈥� to cultivate climate literacy. Misinformation takes on many forms, and some can be difficult to identify. Fernandes says that 鈥淚n the particular case of climate change, we [鈥 need to ensure we share good data and that the conclusions we draw are consistent.鈥� He then goes on to say that climate change is often regarded as the root cause of all problems that cities face today. For example, 鈥淥nce we say 鈥榓h, this flood only happened because of climate change鈥�, without considering the fact that possibly we completely destroyed the natural drainage systems by modifying water lines and creating impervious land areas, that is something that undermines the truth around climate change.鈥�
The new declaration calls on governments, academic institutions, individuals, the private sector, donors, and other stakeholders to combat climate misinformation and increase climate literacy. It also places unique emphasis on the value of science communication and science journalism. Far too often, communication is overlooked or forgotten about in these global forums, as has been the case in previous COPs.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we will be able to touch the heart of every citizen just because of sharing science and good data, which is non-negotiable, of course,鈥� Fernandes says, 鈥淲e just need to make sure this storytelling keeps flowing, and that we don鈥檛 run into wrong data, wrong assumptions, greenwashing, and greenwishing. Those can easily undermine the efforts of climate awareness, and reinforce the position of the denialists.鈥�
Investing in credible science journalism beyond the simple reporting of cold, hard data has many benefits. It outlines and explains key issues, drives climate literacy, engages a broad set of audiences, and gives them a reason to care about climate change. Of course, this Declaration is not all sunshine and rainbows. Despite its definitive stance on supporting climate literacy and integrity, the 鈥渟olutions鈥� it outlines are fairly vague, with one line of the Declaration calling on academia and civil society to 鈥渋ntegrate information integrity on climate change in their work.鈥� How specifically? They do not say.
There is still much to be done by governments and other governing bodies when it comes to climate change, but also by us, those who inhabit this Earth. We, too, need to be better about actively seeking out reliable, data-supported information.
Eva Kellner is a recent graduate from the Faculty of Arts and Science, with a major in Environment. Her research interests include urban green spaces, urban agriculture, and outdoor community spaces - all as promoters of climate resilience among city-dwellers.
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