‘Massive disinformation campaign’ undermines energy transition, says UN assistant secretary general

Fossil fuel companies are conducting “a massive mis- and disinformation campaign” to delay the global shift to renewable energy and the transition away from a carbon-heavy economy, according to the UN.

Selwin Hart, the UN assistant secretary general, told the Guardian that the idea of a global “backlash” against climate action is being promoted by the fossil fuel industry to influence world leaders to slow down on emissions-reducing measures.

It is a perception of opposition to climate policies, he noted, and is largely the result of this campaign rather than a true reflection of public opinion.

Hart emphasised, “There is this prevailing narrative – and a lot of it is being pushed by the fossil fuel industry and their enablers – that climate action is too difficult, it’s too expensive.”

He stressed the importance of leaders and the public in challenging this narrative and highlighting both the benefits of climate action and the risks of inaction.

Hart contrasted this narrative with the findings of the largest climate poll ever conducted, which revealed that a significant majority globally supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The survey showed that 72% of people want a “quick transition” away from fossil fuels, even in countries that remain heavily reliant on coal, oil and gas.

While green initiatives may have faced setbacks in some regions, Hart noted that they have gained traction in others, with policies that were once seen as radical becoming more mainstream.

Hart, who also advises UN Secretary General António Guterres on climate issues, urged governments to pay attention to these findings. He said, “This should alert political leaders – those that are ambitious are not only on the right side of history, they’re on the side of their people as well.”

He warned that the consequences of inaction are affecting both wealthy and poor nations. In the US, for instance, many people are struggling to insure their homes due to the worsening extreme weather, which Hart directly attributed to the climate crisis and fossil fuel use.

Hart added, “Ordinary people are having to pay the price of a climate crisis while the fossil fuel industry continues to reap excess profits and still receives massive government subsidies.”

Hart pointed out that the world is better equipped than ever to address climate breakdown. “Renewables are the cheapest they’ve ever been, the pace of the energy transition is accelerating,” he said.

However, he also cautioned that climate policies must be designed carefully to avoid placing undue burdens on low-income populations, as poorly thought-out measures could disproportionately harm the poor.

Hart noted that some of the resistance to climate action arises when people perceive that the costs are unfairly distributed. He emphasised the need for well-planned transitions to minimise impacts on vulnerable groups.

The UN is advocating for new national plans under the 2015 Paris Agreement, whereby governments must clearly outline their emissions reduction targets, the policies to achieve them, and their expected impacts.

These new plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), should be “as consultative as possible,” Hart said, to ensure that diverse groups, including young people, women, children and workers, can share their perspectives on how the transition should be managed and funded.

Despite the increasingly severe weather events, Hart observed that the level of ambition and action required to address the climate crisis is still lacking. “Despite everything we see [in the form of extreme weather events], we’re still not seeing the level of ambition or action that the world desperately needs,” he said.