The purpose of this letter is to share research and analysis conducted by the Institute of Public Affairs (“the IPA”) with the Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy (“the Committee”) as it inquires into the prevalence and impacts of “misinformation and disinformation as it relates to climate change and energy”.
The terms of reference require the committee to inquire into, among other matters,
- the prevalence of, motivations behind and impacts of misinformation and disinformation related to climate change and energy;
- how misinformation and disinformation related to climate change and energy is financed, produced and disseminated…
- the origins, growth and prevalence of ‘astroturfing’ and its impact on public policy and debate.
The premise of the inquiry can be summarised under two key themes: 1) that opposition to government-led climate policy initiatives are being fuelled by the alleged dissemination of misinformation and disinformation; and 2) that community opposition to ‘renewables’ projects is artificial, or ‘astroturfed’.
