In a watershed moment, countries at COP30 in Belém included “information integrity” in the final Mutirão Decision, recognising that information integrity is essential for effective climate action. This marks the first time that information integrity has been formally embedded in international climate governance.
The achievement follows the 2024 launch of the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, initiated by Brazil, the UN and UNESCO, a coalition of 14 countries, along with other international organisations, civil society and academia working to strengthen research, strategic communications and policy responses to climate disinformation.
The Mutirão Decision signals a major step forward in addressing escalating risks in information spaces – from disinformation to the harassment of scientists – and in ensuring that evidence-based information is available to all. This formal recognition establishes a foundation for coordinated international action on information integrity.
17 Countries Launch Belém Declaration
At COP30, the Global Initiative also launched the Belém Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change with 17 founding signatory nations. Since Belém, three additional countries have signed the Declaration, bringing total signatories to 20. The Declaration calls for urgent measures to address climate disinformation, denialism and attacks on science, and commits signatories to concrete actions.
The Global Initiative will now work with governments and coalition partners worldwide to implement the Declaration’s commitments. Priority actions include:
- Establishing human rights-based information integrity policy frameworks
- Supporting a diverse and resilient media ecosystem
- Ensuring public access to reliable, accessible climate information
- Funding research on climate information integrity, particularly in developing countries where resources fall short of needs
The Declaration was included as an outcome under the COP30 Global Climate Action Agenda and remains open for endorsement.
EU Sets New NDC Standard
In the lead-up to Belém, the European Union became the first party to include information integrity actions in its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, setting a precedent for other countries to follow.
By enshrining information integrity in the COP30 outcomes, the international community has established a new benchmark for addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing climate action today.