Donald Trump recently made headlines with his remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, where he labeled climate change as "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world." His speech included numerous inaccuracies, criticizing clean energy and asserting that coal is both clean and beautiful. Veteran environmentalist Bill McKibben condemned the address, calling it "the dumbest speech in UN history." He noted that climate scientists are accustomed to denialism, but Trump's rhetoric represents a new level of misinformation.

Trump's claims are not novel; they reflect a longstanding strategy of climate denial often promoted by those with financial interests in fossil fuels. In the U.S., researchers have identified a network of climate denial think tanks funded by undisclosed donations, commonly referred to as dark money. This funding obscures the sources of influence and complicates efforts to track the spread of misinformation.

Australia faces similar challenges, as political communications expert Ed Coper pointed out. He expressed concern over the global efforts to undermine support for the energy transition. "We can do more than just laugh at his extreme comments. We can remind people that he does, in fact, have vested interests in preventing action on climate change," Coper said.

Trump's ties to the fossil fuel industry are evident. During his presidential campaign, he solicited a billion dollars in donations from the industry in exchange for rolling back environmental regulations. Although he did not reach that target, he still received record contributions from oil and gas companies. Coper noted, "It's no coincidence that Trump's misinformation on climate change aligns perfectly with the interests of the fossil fuel industry."

A notable symbol in the misinformation campaign against renewable energy is the whale. This narrative gained traction in 2023 when a series of whale strandings on the East Coast of the U.S. were incorrectly attributed to offshore wind turbines. Trump claimed, "The windmills are driving them crazy," despite scientific evidence from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicating that most whale deaths are due to fishing entanglements or vessel collisions, not wind turbines.

Research from Brown University revealed that the misinformation surrounding offshore wind turbines is supported by a network of climate denial think tanks funded by dark money. The study highlighted that these groups, while appearing grassroots, are often backed by well-funded national organizations with ties to the fossil fuel industry.

In Australia, similar misinformation campaigns are emerging. A billboard in Port Stephens depicted a dead whale, suggesting it was killed by offshore wind turbines, mirroring a campaign in the U.S. Additionally, a fabricated study circulated on social media claimed that offshore wind farms could kill up to 400 whales annually. This misinformation was propagated by a local group called Responsible Future (Illawarra Chapter), which has been actively opposing a proposed offshore wind project.

RFI's leadership has acknowledged communication with American groups fighting similar initiatives, although they deny receiving funding from fossil fuel interests. "We have no funding from fossil fuel groups, special interests, or foreign entities. It is laughable to suggest we are part of a conspiracy," a spokesperson stated.

Despite the lack of transparency in financial transactions in Australia, the anti-renewable messaging has gained traction. Coper remarked, "These bad faith actors have seeded misinformation in those communities. It has now been accepted by those communities and there's genuine opposition and concern around that misinformation about offshore wind."

A federal Senate inquiry was launched in July to investigate the spread of misinformation regarding climate change and energy. Academics from the University of Queensland submitted a report warning that misinformation is undermining public trust and hindering the transition to renewable energy. Lead author Matthew Hornsey emphasized the dangers of Trump's comments, stating, "We're trying to do this massive transformation, to respond to this existential threat [of climate change]. I think Trump understands that this is probably the best way to slow down change."

Hornsey's research indicates that false claims about renewable technologies are widely accepted in Australia, driven more by conspiracy-style mistrust than by factual education. The inquiry's submission highlighted that misinformation is strategically financed by vested interests and amplified through unregulated digital platforms. It also noted that disinformation often obscures the connection between fossil fuels and climate change rather than outright denying climate science.

The inquiry received submissions from various right-wing think tanks, including the Centre for Independent Studies, which defended its opaque funding practices. Another group, Advance, has shifted its focus from campaigning against the Voice referendum to opposing climate action and net-zero initiatives. The ongoing spread of misinformation poses significant challenges to public understanding and action on climate change in both the U.S. and Australia.