• Priority Area Multidisciplinary Investigations on Disinformation in Europe
• Year 2024, 2025
• Country Austria, Croatia, Germany
• Project Status Ongoing

Our project tackles the existential threat of environmental degradation by strengthening the resilience of journalists and fact-checkers who report on climate issues. Climate journalists face significant threats, including physical attacks, vexatious lawsuits (SLAPPs), and coordinated online harassment, often leading to self-censorship and the loss of critical information. This problem is exacerbated by disinformation campaigns that undermine efforts to combat climate change.

The objectives of Decoding the Disinformation Playbook 3 include:

(1) Strengthening evidence on disinformation campaigns targeting journalists and fact-checkers covering the climate crisis in Europe through case studies. We will analyze four new case studies to identify channels, tactics, and vectors used to spread disinformation.

(2) Empowering journalists to investigate and report on harmful disinformation campaigns by developing and testing The Guide to Decoding Disinformation. Several journalistic projects will be supported in investigating climate-related disinformation using these tools.

(3) Equipping journalists and newsrooms with safety measures through workshops and best practices to counter online harassment and disinformation.

(4) Raising awareness among the general public, journalists, and policymakers through podcasts, social media engagement, and participation in key events. By addressing these issues, our project aims to safeguard climate journalism and support the fight against environmental degradation.