• COP30 saw launch of the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change

• Twelve countries signed; no African nation has endorsed it yet

• Declaration aims to improve data quality, support media, and counter disinformation
  

Last week, the COP30 climate conference in Belém marked the launch of the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, introduced by the Global Initiative on Information Integrity. The declaration sets out a common framework to improve the reliability of climate-related information.

Twelve countries have already endorsed the document: Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay.

The declaration outlines several commitments for signatory states. These include improving information quality, protecting journalists and researchers, supporting media outlets able to report on climate issues, and ensuring broad access to accurate, easy-to-understand data. It is also expected to be incorporated into the UNFCCC’s Action Plan for Climate Empowerment. The text highlights the need for more research funding, especially in developing countries.

The Global Initiative also announced an expansion of its membership. Since June 2025, the initiative’s associated Global Fund has received 447 proposals from nearly 100 countries. An initial $1 million contribution from Brazil is financing the first set of projects.

Notably, no African country has signed the declaration so far. The absence stands out given the region’s growing exposure to misleading information. Research shows that disinformation campaigns have multiplied across the continent alongside the rise of social media. While the trend is not new, it has intensified in political, health and social spheres, enabling false or manipulated content to circulate rapidly online.

The challenge is particularly acute as African countries are already experiencing severe climate impacts and urgently need greater support to strengthen their ability to adapt.

Abdoullah Diop