UN Chief Guterres Calls for Fight Against Climate Disinformation Ahead of COP30

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday (October 22) urged global action against climate disinformation ahead of next month’s COP30 summit, following US President Donald Trump’s recent dismissal of climate change as the “greatest con job ever.”

Speaking at the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in Geneva, Guterres defended the importance of “clear-eyed” climate science and data, which he said were crucial for understanding the “dangerous and existential threat of climate change.”

“We must fight mis- and disinformation, online harassment, and greenwashing,” Guterres said. “Scientists and researchers should never fear telling the truth.”

His comments are widely seen as a direct response to Trump’s speech at the UN in New York last month, where the former president criticized green technologies and fossil fuel alternatives:

“Climate change – it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,” Trump said. He also dismissed renewables as “a joke” and opposed clean energy tax credits.

Renewables: The Path Forward
Guterres countered that almost all new power capacity in 2024 came from renewables, noting surging investments.

“Renewables are the cheapest, fastest and smartest source of new power. They represent the only credible path to end the relentless destruction of our climate,” he stated.

The WMO, marking its 75th anniversary this year, is advocating for extreme weather early warning systems to cover all countries by 2027.

“Global warming is pushing our planet to the brink. Every one of the last 10 years has been the hottest in history. Ocean heat is breaking records while decimating ecosystems. No country is safe from fires, floods, storms, and heatwaves,” Guterres warned.
“As always, the poorest and most vulnerable pay the highest price—especially small island developing states and least developed countries.”

Preparing for COP30
The COP30 summit will take place from November 10-21 in Belem, Brazil. Guterres urged nations to present strong domestic climate action plans ahead of the meeting, emphasizing the need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

“Countries must deliver bold new national climate action plans that include commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. Much greater ambition is required,” he said.

Guterres’ remarks underscore the urgency of combating both climate change itself and the spread of misinformation that undermines global efforts to address it.