Climate disinformation is driving attacks, displacement, and criminalization of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Philippines, according to a new report linking false environmental narratives to human rights abuses.
The study, “Climate Disinformation in the Philippines: Legitimising Attacks on Indigenous Peoples,” published by Asia Centre, found that misleading climate claims are being used by state and corporate actors to justify land grabbing and suppress Indigenous resistance.
“The Philippines is Asia’s deadliest country for environmental activists, with Indigenous land defenders accounting for one-third of the 298 victims killed between 2012 and 2023,” the report said.
It said climate disinformation is reshaping public narratives by portraying extractive and infrastructure projects as environmentally beneficial while casting Indigenous opposition as a security threat.
Such narratives “falsely label state initiatives as ‘green’ while baselessly accusing IPs as ‘communists’ or ‘terrorists’,” the report said, adding that this framing is used to justify land seizures and repression.
“Climate disinformation rationalises systemic violence against IPs,” it added.
The report identified four key tactics: fabricating Indigenous consent, greenwashing, promoting false climate solutions, and deflecting accountability. These, it said, create an illusion of environmental responsibility while concealing harmful practices.
It cited cases where staged consultations and selective engagement were presented as proof of Indigenous approval for projects on ancestral lands, despite opposition from affected communities.
The consequences are severe, including intimidation, forced evictions, red-tagging, and physical violence, the report said. Indigenous defenders are often criminalised under counterterrorism frameworks, exposing them to arrest or attack.
The findings come as the Philippines remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, with Indigenous communities facing disproportionate risks due to their dependence on land and natural resources.
Despite legal protections, including the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, the report said enforcement gaps persist, particularly in the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent and the continued militarisation of ancestral domains.
It called for coordinated action from governments, media, civil society, and technology platforms to counter disinformation and protect Indigenous rights.
“Thoroughly adopting a rights-based approach entails dismantling the legal, economic, and media structures that enable climate disinformation,” the report said, stressing that climate action must be “just, inclusive, and ecologically sustainable.”
