In its Global Risks Report 2024, the World Economic Forum lists thirty-four risks. Misinformation and disinformation rank number one in the list of short-term risks (two years) and number five in the long-term risks (ten years). The top five risks of the long-term perspective concern the environment.

The Council of Europe Secretary General’s initiative “Towards a new Democratic Pact for Europe” also identifies environmental degradation and disinformation as root causes of democratic backsliding.

In 2024, the Brazilian government, UNESCO and the United Nations launched The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, a joint effort to strengthen research and measures to address disinformation seeking to delay and derail climate action. These efforts are crucial for sustaining support for urgent climate action at a time when scientists warn that the world that the world is nearing critical thresholds.

Disinformation and misinformation can indeed have an extremely harmful impact on society, eroding democracy and undermining human rights and fundamental freedoms. The “information disorder” puts at stake freedom of expression and media freedom; the rights to health and privacy, the right to be protected from discrimination and violence, and the right to participation in public affairs, including in environment-related matters. Moreover, disinformation undermines public trust in science and institutions, distorts public debate and hinders the development and implementation of urgently needed policies and legislation to stop environmental degradation.

Access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters are the key pillars of environmental governance and are critical to the exercise of many fundamental rights. They are also rights guaranteed by several global and Council of Europe treaties. The UN Aarhus Convention specifically addresses Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. The Council of Europe has several conventions, soft law instruments, and initiatives relevant for access to information, freedom of expression, and democratic governance.

Many initiatives and processes at global, EU and at the Council of Europe levels tackle disinformation. They do so by imposing or recommending legal reforms (sanctions, transparency and accountability frameworks), fostering self-regulation and co-regulation with the private sector, user empowerment (media literacy, access to trusted sources and complaints mechanisms), research, independent facts-checking systems, labelling systems, multistakeholder cooperation and networking. Climate disinformation is often mentioned as an example of the challenges to address, together with electoral processes, COVID-19 and conflict-related disinformation.

Policy and legal measures to tackle disinformation must strike the right balance between the interest to preserve, on the one hand, the integrity of information and the rights that disinformation may put at stake and, on the other hand, the obligation to protect freedom of expression and media freedom from undue restrictions. Elements to strike that balance can be found in the caselaw of the European Court of Human Rights. Also linked to this topic is the need to create enabling conditions for environmental defenders to operate, highlighted by the Human Rights Commissioner and several UN rapporteurs.

Outcomes of the Event:

This side event explored how to preserve information integrity in climate action from a human rights perspective, emphasising youth engagement. It :

• Highlighted the importance of access to reliable and timely environmental information as a human right and a foundation for democratic environmental governance.

• Discussed how youth perspectives are being integrated into the Council of Europe’s and member states’ efforts to counter climate disinformation.

• Examined the role of courts and the judiciary in addressing climate disinformation and promoting accountability.

• Showcased examples of youth-led initiatives to identify, counter, and communicate against climate disinformation.

• Addressed the protection of vulnerable groups and climate activists, ensuring they are not subject to retaliation for their advocacy.

By bringing together representatives from international institutions, governments, and youth organisations, the event helped to foster dialogue and identify joint actions to safeguard information integrity and empower informed climate participation.

Moderator: Mr Xabier Gomez, Project Lead on Environmental Defenders, Youth and Environment Europe

Speakers:

• Mr Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe.

• Ms Marta Saraiva - Former Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to the Council of Europe.

• Dr Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.

• Mr Connah Snape, Board Member, Youth and Environment Europe.