Conspiracy theorists have turned from COVID to climate. How will it impact the EU elections?

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Conspiracy theorists who previously spread COVID-19 misinformation are now targeting climate policies
• Climate disinformation is proliferating on social media ahead of the EU parliamentary elections in June, with influencers exploiting various narratives, including farmers' protests and perceived threats to civil liberties

🔭 The context: Climate disinformation is increasingly part of European cultural debates
• Conspiracy theorists link climate issues to wider anti-establishment narratives, fueling concerns about climate policies among mainstream voters

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Climate disinformation undermines support for necessary environmental policies
• Delays in adopting effective climate measures could slow progress on emissions reduction and sustainable development, negatively impacting ecosystems and communities

⏭️ What's next: Climate denialism's influence is expected to persist beyond the elections
• Experts warn that a "chilling effect" may hinder climate action, with governments feeling they lack the political capital to implement necessary policies

💬 One quote: "Climate change denialism has been co-opted into the culture wars," (Joe Düker, a researcher at the Center for Monitoring, Analysis, and Strategy)

📈 One stat: Conspiracy-minded channels and groups on Telegram generate around 100 million views monthly, spreading misinformation across over 20 European languages

Click for more news covering the latest on climate change