Fact-Checking Environmental Misinformation: Perspectivesfrom Indian Fact-Checking Organizations on Future,Technology, and Policy

Abstract

Environmental misinformation has become one of the most persistent challenges to science communication and policymaking, particularly in relation to climate change, pollution, and corporate sustainability claims. While fact-checking
organizations have gained visibility worldwide, there is still little research that places their perspectives at the centre
of this discussion. This paper draws on 24 interviews conducted with members of 13 fact-checking organizations in
India, focusing on three questions: how these actors envision the future of fact-checking, how they see new technologies
such as artificial intelligence shaping their work, and what kinds of laws or policies they believe are necessary to
counter the spread of environmental misinformation. The responses reveal both optimism and caution: fact-checkers
recognize the urgency of addressing climate-related falsehoods but remain concerned about limited resources, the doubleedged nature of AI, and the absence of supportive regulatory frameworks. By foregrounding their voices, the study
suggests that fact-checking in India is not only about correcting claims but also about defending environmental
knowledge in a contested media landscape