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The Battle for Truth on Water, Climate and the Environment: The Impact of Information Influencing Campaigns
December 2023
Stockholm
SIPRI
Information manipulation related to climate and water can create security risks, increase polarization and erode trust in climate science, democratic principles and values. The widespread use of information manipulation campaigns on the causes and impacts of climate change, water scarcity and water resources in transboundary basins negatively affects the environment in which political will is generated to find and implement solutions to these challenges.
This policy brief identifies two cases of information manipulation in the context of climate and water: (a) water availability during the Russian aggression in Ukraine; (b) information manipulation in the context of transboundary negotiations and the role of social media from the Eastern Nile. Following the case studies, the brief focuses on the information landscape of climate- and water-related disinformation during armed conflicts.
Governments must treat water- and climate-related information influencing and manipulation as a serious security risk. The policy brief closes with recommendations for governments and multilateral organizations, to make societies more resilient to disinformation by focusing on education and communication. Scholars and experts need to increase understanding of the extent of the security risks posed by disinformation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)/EDITORS
Dr Martina Klimes is an Advisor for Water and Peace at the Stockholm International Water Institute and member of the Scientific Programme Committee of the World Water Week, specializing in water, peace and security.
Katie Goldie-Ryder is a Programme Officer at the Stockholm International Water Institute, specializing in water diplomacy and transboundary water cooperation.
Dr Karina Shyrokykh is an Associate Professor in International Relations at Stockholm University, specializing in environmental and climate governance in Ukraine, Russian disinformation and the European Union’s external climate policy promotion.
Jacob Baraza Abumba is a Water and Climate Governance Expert, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education Alumna, and an Advisor for the Reversing the Flow Programme at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
Dr Bhanu Neupane is an Advisor for information and communications technology, sciences and open solutions at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).