The Climate Policy Institute participated in the MCC Brussels debate “Democracy Shield: Electoral security or narrative control?” on 28 January 2026, examining the EU’s European Democracy Shield measures.
While designed to protect elections from disinformation and foreign interference, the discussion critically looked at whether these tools could unintentionally centralise narrative control and constrain open public debate.
For the Institute, this conversation is directly relevant: transparent democratic processes and access to reliable information are essential for effective climate policymaking.
Public engagement, trust in science, and informed debate are foundational to building broad support for climate action, and any threat to open discourse ultimately affects society’s ability to address climate challenges. By contributing to the debate, the Institute underscored that safeguarding free speech and preventing misinformation are not only democratic priorities but also vital to advancing climate policy goals.
