New Report Reveals the Growing Impact of Climate Disinformation in Canada
February 5, 2025 – As climate action faces growing resistance, a new report from the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy sheds light on the state and spread of climate disinformation in Canada. Climate Obstruction: The State and Spread of Climate Disinformation in Canada examines how climate delay narratives—messaging that acknowledges climate change but downplays urgency and viable solutions—are influencing public perception and policy action.
Key Findings:
Most Canadians acknowledge the reality of climate change, yet a significant "impact gap" remains. While 74% agree that climate change is real, fewer than half believe it directly affects their lives today.
Partisanship strongly influences opinions on carbon pricing, with Conservative supporters being more than three times as likely to oppose it compared to Liberal or NDP supporters.
Climate disinformation is widely accepted in Canada, with "hypocrisy and elitism" – the idea that climate change advocates are elitist and hypocritical, therefore illegitimate (67%) as the most persuasive narrative. Over half support the “ethical oil” argument, – the idea that Canada’s oil is somehow more “ethical” compared to other countries with poor human rights while 53% favor “absolutionist” views that shift climate responsibility to other provinces or groups.
In Canada, Indigenous empowerment is co-opted and leveraged to justify fossil fuel extraction.
Despite skepticism toward renewables, most still support government investment in clean energy.
Disinformation thrives on social media. Major platforms continue to allow the spread of false climate content, with little transparency or accountability.
“The debate about climate change is no longer just about denial – it’s about delay. Our findings show just how pervasive and convincing these tactics have become in Canada,” said Sonja Solomun, Principal Investigator and Deputy Director of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy. “To address the climate crisis, we have to address our information ecosystem. That means treating climate disinformation as a structural problem that needs regulatory solutions.”
The report underscores the need for urgent policy intervention, including stronger oversight of climate-related advertising, increased transparency from technology companies, and regulatory measures to curb the spread of misleading climate content including data access for researchers and stronger accountability for known climate conspiracies. As governments and policymakers grapple with online harms legislation, the findings make clear that climate disinformation must be part of the conversation.
Click here to go on the report’s page.
Media Contact:
Isabelle Corriveau
Senior Manager, Public Outreach and Communications, Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy
isabelle.corriveau2@mcgill.ca
