“Climate and Society” Centre: Annual Conference on Disinformation and New Narratives
On 2 June 2026, the “Climate and Society” Centre (C2S) held its annual conference on the Pierre and Marie Curie campus of Sorbonne University. The event focused on the challenges posed by climate disinformation in the French media and explored new ways of communicating about climate change through narratives that are less alarmist and catastrophic.
In 2025, the Observatory of Media Coverage of Ecology recorded more than 600 cases of climate-related misinformation and disinformation on French television and radio. This is a deeply concerning figure, particularly given the increasingly visible impacts of climate change.
Valérie Masson-Delmotte, Co-Director of the Centre and the Young Climate Advocates of the Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute (IPSL) reflected on the day and the key themes discussed during the debates and workshops.
“This conference provided an opportunity to consider the role of science and scientific evidence in public debate, while also examining the political narratives that draw upon disinformation”, said Valérie Masson-Delmotte.
The Young Climate Advocates also contributed to the discussions by leading several workshops.
“It was important for us to be here today, because it is essential that young people’s voices are represented in today’s society and in the future we are working to build”, said Elsa Abs, a member of the collective.
The event forms part of IPSL’s public-interest mission. Internationally recognised for its public research and the production of climate data, the Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute is a leading centre for climate science. Its “Climate and Society” Centre serves as a hub for scientific expertise and education, dedicated to advancing understanding of climate science and its interactions with society.
