New report links climate misinformation to project delays and community resistance
A federal Senate inquiry into misinformation on climate change and energy has concluded with recommendations spanning regulation, education, media funding and community engagement, pointing to information integrity as a practical factor shaping how energy projects are understood and delivered across Australia.
A Senate select committee established in July 2025 to examine misinformation and disinformation in climate change and energy has handed down its final report, closing the inquiry on 24 March 2026. The Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy was tasked with assessing how inaccurate or misleading information affects public understanding and decision-making in the sector. Its reporting deadline was extended from February to March 2026 before the final document was tabled. The report, titled The Integrity Gap: Restoring Trust in the Climate and Energy Debate, outlines a series of recommendations directed at government, regulators, education systems and industry bodies.
Focus on regulation and transparency
Several recommendations focus on strengthening oversight of corporate and digital activity linked to climate and energy messaging. The committee recommends increased resourcing for regulators including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to address corporate greenwashing.
It also proposes improved transparency around campaign activity, particularly where third parties are funded by commercial interests in the lead-up to federal elections. Digital platforms are another area of focus, with recommendations to improve the quality and detail of data reported to regulators, including information on climate and energy content, advertising and moderation actions. The committee further suggests exploring legislative or regulatory reform that assigns responsibility to platforms for psychosocial harms linked to misinformation.
Education and media identified as key levers
The report places emphasis on education and media systems as part of the response. It recommends expanding digital literacy within the Australian Curriculum to strengthen media literacy, and ensuring the National Media Literacy Strategy incorporates examples from climate and energy contexts. The committee also calls for ongoing funding support for regional and independent media outlets, recognising their role in information access and local reporting. Additional recommendations include increased funding for social science research to better understand threats to information integrity and identify potential solutions.
Community engagement and social licence
A number of recommendations relate directly to how energy projects are communicated and received in communities. The committee recommends that agencies such as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation consider social licence in their decision-making, including employing expertise in social and behavioural sciences and ensuring advisory bodies include community engagement capability.
It also proposes that the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner receive adequate funding for community engagement and report annually on threats to information integrity in the sector. Further work is suggested through the CSIRO to provide clear data on the costs and benefits of renewable energy, storage and transmission to address local concerns.
Broader coordination across government
The report calls for a coordinated national approach to information integrity. Recommendations include adopting international principles on information integrity, endorsing global declarations, and improving coordination across government agencies and jurisdictions.
The committee also highlights the need to support community-led engagement models, particularly in rural and regional areas, with funding directed toward organisations that have established local trust.
