BEYOND CLIMATE DENIAL: MISINFORMATION ON CLIMATE-RELATED EXTREME EVENTS AND POLICIES IN TÜRKİYE

Introduction

Climate disinformation and misinformation pose growing challenges to informed policymaking decisions by shaping public understanding of climate risks, undermining trust in scientific and public institutions, and potentially weakening support for climate action.

These concerns are particularly relevant in the Mediterranean, a climate change hotspot where intensifying extreme weather conditions compound existing environmental and socioeconomic pressures.² In this context, information integrity is not merely a matter of communication but also a consideration for effective climate governance, resilience, and human security.

Conclusion

The Mediterranean Basin is warming faster than the global average as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, while projections by climate models predict intensifying environmental pressures across the region. Addressing these challenges requires both accelerated emissions reductions and stronger adaptation measures to reduce exposure and vulnerability to climate impacts. However, the effectiveness of these responses depends not only on scientific evidence and appropriate instruments but also on how climate risks and measures are communicated, understood, and accepted by society. Access to reliable, evidence-based information enables informed decisions, while their public acceptance, also influenced by levels of trust in institutions, shapes whether climate policies can be adopted and sustained over time.