Tackling climate disinformation requires more than better communication: Europe must listen to communities, address legitimate local concerns and demonstrate through practical action that the green transition delivers results. This was the message from EPP-CoR members Csaba Borboly, Vice-President of Harghita County Council (Romania), and Anthony Chircop, President of the Eastern Region of Malta, during a debate on disinformation and public engagement in the green transition at the European Committee of the Regions.
Speaking from the perspective of Europe’s mountain communities, Borboly stressed that legitimate concerns about the green transition should not be confused with disinformation. Water shortages, pressure on farming and the challenges faced by local authorities are already affecting daily life in mountain areas. Local communities must therefore be involved in shaping climate solutions, with local knowledge feeding directly into decisions.
Csaba Borboly said: “Mountain communities must be partners in shaping the transition, not simply audiences for our messages. Their local knowledge must count, and their concerns must influence the choices we make. Better communication cannot replace fair decisions and visible results.” Borboly highlighted plans for a Climate Pact ‘Close to You’ event on 18 December, together with Árpád Antal and Romanian partners. The initiative aims to bring residents, farmers, researchers and public authorities together to identify practical solutions on water resilience, local water retention, mountain livelihoods and skills.
From an island perspective, Anthony Chircop pointed to the impact of Storm Harry as a tangible example of the consequences of extreme weather. “Storm Harry surprised us with its intensity. We saw serious damage to our coastline, ports and roads, as well as to agriculture and fish farming. For an island community, this is the reality we are facing, and it shows us why we must prepare our infrastructure for increasingly extreme weather.”
Chircop also highlighted the particular vulnerability of islands when extreme weather disrupts maritime connections and the arrival of essential supplies. He called for greater attention to the resilience of ports, quays and breakwaters so that island infrastructure is better prepared for increasingly severe weather events.
The interventions came during the ENVE Commission’s debate on Disinformation and Public Engagement in the Green Transition. A study commissioned by the ENVE Commission warned that disinformation can undermine trust in EU climate and environmental policies and underlined the importance of local and regional authorities, which are closest to citizens and territorial realities, in strengthening public engagement.