Climate disinformation is weakening Indigenous Peoples’ ability to defend their ancestral lands and forests in Cambodia, according to a new study.
The report, Climate Disinformation in Cambodia: Undermining Indigenous Peoples’ Agency, produced by the Asia Centre and International Media Support (IMS), said false narratives are eroding Indigenous voices in climate and land governance.
It warned that “climate disinformation undermines IPs’ agency in Cambodia. Specifically, IPs’ ability to amplify their voices, articulate the challenges their communities face, and identify effective solutions to address climate change and deforestation.”
Four forms of disinformation
Researchers identified four major forms of climate disinformation:
- One-sided narratives in state-aligned media and some conservation groups that highlight government climate action while concealing rights abuses and ecological harm.
- False climate solutions, including REDD+ and hydropower projects, promoted as environmentally beneficial despite their harmful impacts on Indigenous communities.
- Corporate greenwashing, where companies such as Think BioTech and LCMD exaggerate sustainability claims to mask deforestation.
- Denial of deforestation, in which authorities and pro-government organisations dismiss evidence of forest loss, even in protected areas.
Direct impacts
These narratives, the report said, exclude Indigenous communities from climate discussions and legitimize projects that displace them from ancestral lands.
Limited internet connectivity, while shielding many from online falsehoods, also restricts their ability to share credible information and counter state-led disinformation.
Authorities were also found to intimidate Indigenous communities into accepting government narratives. “State and commune-level authorities use offline intimidation as a tactic to pressure IP communities in climate-related dialogue,” the report said.
It noted that officials often threaten legal or extra-legal action against those who resist.
The report added that official and media accounts portray Indigenous Peoples as threats to the environment, a framing that has been used to justify arrests and legal cases against environmental defenders.
The report urged UN bodies to integrate the issue into human rights monitoring and called on Cambodian ministries to address climate disinformation in national strategies.
It also pressed the media to expand Indigenous coverage, including through translations, and urged technology companies to strengthen policies against disinformation and improve rural connectivity.
“These recommendations seek to support more inclusive and evidence-informed climate governance,” the report said, stressing the need for multi-stakeholder engagement and full recognition of Indigenous self-determination.
