A groundbreaking study has identified 128 verified cases of climate disinformation in French media during Q1 2025—roughly 10 false claims per week, according to findings shared with Euronews. The research, set for full publication in September 2025, reveals systemic issues in France’s most influential outlets.
Worst Offenders: Repeat Violators
➤ Sud Radio: Topping the list with 40 cases (⅓ of total), this platform continues spreading climate denial despite a 2024 legal warning from regulator ARCOM for its show ‘Bercoff dans tous ses états’.
➤ CNews: Fined €20,000 in 2024 for climate misinformation, the channel remains a hotspot for debunked claims.
➤ BFM TV: France’s top news channel violated its own editorial standards by airing unchecked climate falsehoods.
➤ LCI & Radio Classique: Amplified myths about electric vehicles and hosted known climate deniers like Christian Gérondeau.
“Watchdog” Outlets Shine
While some outlets failed, others like RFI (Radio France Internationale) were praised for zero disinformation cases despite extensive climate coverage. France Inter, France Culture, and Arte also maintained clean records, though covered fewer environmental topics.
Top Targets of Disinformation
- Energy (50% of cases): False claims that renewables are “unreliable” or “dirtier than fossil fuels.”
- Mobility (47%): Myths about EVs being “more polluting” than combustion engines.
- Climate Science (13%): Outright denial of human-caused climate change.
Why It Matters
➤ 69% of French citizens trust TV news (vs. 29% for social media), making mainstream misinformation especially dangerous.
➤ Disinformation spiked around elections, revealing its use as a political tool.
➤ The study provides a blueprint for global disinformation tracking.
“Disinformation thrives in a vacuum,” notes the study, pointing out that climate topics make up just 2% of airtime. Increasing evidence-based coverage could be key to countering false narratives.
