A new study conducted by Impress, the UK’s independent press regulator, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, has revealed a concerning shortfall in public access to independently regulated climate change information.
According to the research, just 18.4% of the UK’s reading population—equating to roughly 10.4 million out of 56.6 million people—regularly engage with climate content published under independent press regulation standards.
By examining Impress member publications that consistently report on climate change, the study uncovered a troubling lack of reach for reliable, regulated information. This gap, researchers argue, creates fertile ground for the spread of climate misinformation and conspiracy theories.
“There is no subject upon which so many misleading statistics are freely peddled by climate change sceptics,” said Richard Ayre, Chair of Impress. “The news media, regulators and, crucially, the online platforms all have an overriding imperative to sort truth from fiction, to counter misinformation, take down disinformation, promote accuracy over propaganda, intelligence over ignorance, and public honesty over political opportunism. It is barely an exaggeration to say that our futures depend upon getting this right.”
Utilising data from Impress’ total unique monthly visitors alongside statistics from the Office for National Statistics, researchers were able to quantify the reach of independently regulated climate reporting. The findings underscore the urgent need to broaden access to high-quality, trustworthy information on one of the most critical issues facing society.
Dr Dominic Hinde, lecturer in sociology at the University of Glasgow and co-author of the study, stressed the importance of collaboration to improve climate communication and public engagement.
“Climate change is not a distant threat or an exclusive concern among scientists and researchers; it is the defining political, social, and economic issue of this – and future – generations,” said Dr Hinde. “Yet, as the impacts of climate change grow increasingly apparent, media coverage has often failed to address the topic in ways that serve the public interest or reflect the urgency of the crisis.
“Working from data on Impress’ own membership and the landscape of the UK media as a whole, we see that only a small fraction of publications in the United Kingdom provide independently regulated climate coverage where scientists, the public and policy professionals can seek correction and the upholding of standards through independent regulation.”
The report concludes with a strong call to action for researchers, policymakers, journalists, and civil society to work together in tackling climate misinformation and strengthening the reach and influence of independently regulated journalism.
