Climate Disinformation Recognized as Public Health Threat

• •WHO member states are urged to recognize climate disinformation as a public health threat.
• •The report outlines how misinformation can delay critical health and climate policies.
• •Case studies include misinformation from the Maui wildfires and London's low-emission zone.

Health and civil society organizations are urging WHO member states to recognize climate disinformation as a public health threat. This call follows a new report titled 'Protecting Health in the Age of Climate Disinformation,' which outlines how misinformation undermines emergency warnings and public health guidance, delaying crucial policies on air pollution and clean energy. Case studies highlighted include misinformation surrounding the 2023 Maui wildfires and London's Ultra Low Emission Zone. The report emphasizes that a healthier information environment is essential for climate justice and public health. The health community is advocating for information integrity to be embedded in climate and health policy, rather than being solely the responsibility of communications teams. This initiative aligns with global efforts to address misinformation, including a declaration made at COP30 in Belém in 2025.