ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2021) – Environmental disasters are increasing worldwide and will become more frequent and severe as a result of climate change, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization.
The Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) will partner with Facebook to distribute $800,000 in grant support to fact-checkers, climate organizations and solution providers working to combat false and misleading information about climate change.
“We are happy to partner with Facebook on this yearlong grant program. As countries brace for extreme weather impact, the global fact-checking community is preparing to refute climate misinformation,” said IFCN director Baybars Örsek. “The Climate Misinformation Grant Program allows members of the fact-checking ecosystem to present innovative proposals and launch initiatives that will reduce climate misinformation and help shape the future of accountability journalism.”
The program will accept requests from organizations around the world with a demonstrated track record of detecting or disproving false climate claims. An independent selection committee of scientists, researchers and journalists will award recipients up to $100,000. Collaborative partnerships with creative mechanisms to verify information are encouraged.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with IFCN to support the global fact-checking industry’s efforts to address climate-related misinformation. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of increased collaboration between fact-checkers and climate experts,” said Keren Goldshlager, News Integrity Lead at Facebook.
Grantees will have opportunities to access IFCN staff, build tools to fight climate misinformation, and share their outcomes with the global fact-checking community. The application period will run from Sept. 16 to Oct. 31. Grant recipients will be notified by Dec. 15.
Click here to learn more about the Climate Misinformation Grant Program and apply.
