For the Love of the Planet Get your Facts Straight

Group produces a booklet to help Canadians navigate the growing wave of climate disinformation

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2025
Media Contact: Cathy Orlando, 705-929-4043 cathy@citizensclimate.org

Sudbury, ON –Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a new booklet is being released to help Canadians navigate the growing wave of climate disinformation that threatens democracy, public policy, and our collective future. As the Hogue Inquiry has warned, disinformation is the greatest threat to our democracy. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has openly discussed plans to annex Canada, underscoring the urgent need for informed and fact-based public discourse.

The Climate Emergency is Here
In January, wildfires tore through Los Angeles, causing an estimated $200 billion in damages and proving that even the wealthiest are not immune to climate devastation. Closer to home, Canada endured its costliest year for weather disasters, with insured losses reaching $8.5 billion—nearly three times the record set in 2023 and twelve times the average annual losses between 2001 and 2010.

At a global level, 2024 was the hottest year on record, pushing planetary warming past 1.5°C. January 2025 has already set another record, reaching 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels despite being a La Niña year. The implications are dire: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that surpassing 1.5°C of warming poses immense risks to both natural and human systems.

Disinformation is Fueling Inaction
As climate disasters escalate, disinformation campaigns—often funded by fossil fuel interests—are deliberately muddying the waters of public understanding. Social media platforms remain largely unregulated, amplifying falsehoods that undermine climate policies and delay critical action. Unlike the Canadian Press, which is accountable to the public and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), tech giants are profiting from the spread of false information with little to no oversight.

“Rampant misinformation is jeopardizing our fundamental right to a livable planet,” says Cathy Orlando, National Director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada. “Social media moguls must be held accountable for the harm they cause, just as traditional media is.”

A Tool to Fight Back
In response to this crisis, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada has compiled a comprehensive booklet covering key climate issues, election integrity, and effective communication strategies. The booklet includes sections on:
– The impact of climate disinformation and its ties to fossil fuel interests.
– Best practices for discussing climate policy and engaging voters.
– The truth about carbon pricing.
– How climate action is essential for affordability, human health and economic stability.

Taking Action with Facts
The good news? Facts still matter. If Canadians engage in informed, fact-based discussions—free from the influence of climate denial and political manipulation—we can build a more just and sustainable future.

Download the booklet here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DpXBZDaNh9ySGywoEOwZZNGrSeSOlL6SAZvmaZh2T18/edit?usp=sharing