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.

The online panel discussion at COP28 discussed real life cases of information manipulation in the context of climate and water. 

On December 8, Karina Shyrokykh, Associate Professor in International Relations, participated in an online panel discussion on misinformation and disinformation around climate and water during COP28. Among other subjects, the panel discussed 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. 

Karinas research focuses among other things on climate governance and external democracy promotion.

Following the panel discussion, a policy brief focusing on the information landscape of climate- and water-related disinformation was published within the SIPRI paper series.

The policy brief underlines that governments must treat water- and climate-related information influencing and manipulation as a serious security risk. The policy brief also provides several recommendations for governments and multilateral organizations, to make societies more resilient to disinformation by focusing on education and communication. 

For the policy brief, see: 
Klimes, M., Goldie-Ryder, K., Shyrokykh, K.,  Abumba, Bhanu, JB., and Neupane, B. (2023) "The Battle for Truth on Water, Climate and the Environment: The Impact of Information Influencing Campaigns". SIPRI, Stockholm.