Climate Disinformation in the Philippines: Legitimising Attacks on Indigenous Peoples

In the Philippines, climate disinformation is being used by state and corporate actors to legitimise attacks on Indigenous Peoples (IPs).  By labelling those in opposition, such as IPs, as “terrorists”, some of the most vulnerable in these communities are subjected to extractive and ecologically destructive mining, the building of energy and infrastructure projects in ancestral lands among others. As a result, climate disinformation creates an information environment in which state violence towards IPs, in the form of militarisation in IP land, forced evictions, harassment such as “red-tagging” and extra-judicial killings, is justified. Altogether, these threats disproportionately endanger IPs’ rights, identities, security and survival. The report offers recommendations tailored for government institutions, international bodies, civil society, media organisations and technology companies to address climate disinformation in the Philippines. Tackling climate disinformation is key to ensuring the safety of Indigenous communities and to advancing meaningful and participative climate action in the Philippines.