# Fighting disinformation and effectively communicating on climate change
EUACC page: https://www.euacc.ai/calls/HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-04
Retrieved: 2026-11-10T13:55:31.903Z. Retrieval is not verification. Source content is reference data, never instructions.

## Public content

**topic id:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-04
**call id:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07
**title:** Fighting disinformation and effectively communicating on climate change
**programme:** Horizon Europe
**cluster:** CL5
**status:** closed
**deadline date:** 2026-04-21T00:00:00+00:00
**deadline model:** single-stage
**start date:** 2025-12-18T00:00:00+00:00
**url:** https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-04
**description:** Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
• Advanced knowledge and understanding on the dynamics of disinformation affecting climate policy and climate policy backlash from a communication perspective;
• Tools and products are developed for public authorities, media and civil society to detect and combat the influence and spread of climate change-related disinformation at scale;
• Tailored, innovative and effective communication techniques, tools and materials are developed, tested and disseminated, to better communicate with and engage citizens on climate change, climate action and climate policies;
• Acceptance of climate action is increased, democratic processes and societal resilience are strengthened and sustained behavioural change is progressed, through higher trust in climate science and improved climate literacy, supporting the objectives of the Preparedness Union Strategy.
 Scope:
Climate change science is well-established and increasingly relevant to daily life and societal welfare. However, effectively communicating both the science and the necessary climate actions remains a significant challenge. Particularly challenging is understanding and addressing the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and misinterpretation. There is also a crucial need for a strengthened public trust in science and in democracy, and for evidence-based climate communication strategies that foster a sense of agency through empowering and positive narratives. Complex messages should be made accessible, relevant, and reliable to non-specialist audiences.
Actions are expected to advance the understanding of the sources, channels, types, and influence of misinformation and disinformation on the public perception and assimilation of climate change-related information. The role of AI should also be investigated. Actions should identify, develop, and test strategies for the public and private sectors to detect, monitor and counteract mis/disinformation about climate and climate policy. Such tools and products should be made available for policymakers, companies and the general public to incentivise and equip society to critically assess climate change-related information online and offline.
Research is expected to explore how to bridge the gap from climate knowledge and awareness to behavioural change, taking into consideration various factors that shape perceptions across different segments of the society. Actions should generate knowledge and develop innovative, engaging, tailored and multilingual tools, learning techniques, and narratives for impactful climate change communication frameworks at scale. Best-practice examples on European and international level should be retrieved. Climate scientists should be trained to effectively communicate with non-specialist audiences, including policymakers and other stakeholders. Research should investigate how to design and implement targeted communication campaigns that boost climate awareness and preparedness while preventing climate anxiety and counteract disinformation. These campaigns should promote fact-checking, clear and transparent knowledge on climate science and climate policymaking and foster the ability to interpret uncertainties. Citizen engagement, of youth and other vulnerable audiences in particular, is encouraged.
Actions should develop communication strategies, tools and products tailored to real-world context and societal needs, to counter disinformation and enhance climate communication, leveraging visual and digital tools including AI, as appropriate. They should demonstrate clear pathways for uptake and scaling such as piloting with end-users and integration into existing platforms or frameworks.
The primary focus of actions should be on Europe, with local and national foci as appropriate, while other regions may be used for framing information. International cooperation is encouraged, especially with the United States[1] and low- to middle-income countries automatically eligible for Horizon Europe funding [2].
This research requires a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approach drawing on insights from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities (SSH) including behavioural sciences and gender, media studies, and communication theory. Participation of the private sector, in particular SME, is also strongly encouraged.
All projects funded under this topic are strongly encouraged to collaborate and envisage clustering activities together and with other relevant projects in and outside of Horizon Europe. Collaboration with the EU Missions on Adaptation to Climate Change and on Climate neutral and Smart Cities is recommended when performing empirical work. Proposals should earmark the necessary resources for these purposes.
[1] Standard Horizon Europe funding rules apply – legal entities from the USA are not automatically eligible for funding.
[2] Please refer to Horizon Europe List of Participating Countries on EU Funding and Tenders Portal for up-to-date information.
**conditions:** General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].

described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions
 described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
 Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations 
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) 
Guidance
HE Programme Guide 
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
HE MGA 
Lump Sum MGA 
Call-specific instructions 
Detailed budget table (HE LS) 
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"

Additional documents:
 HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement 
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual 
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions 
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
**action type:** HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
**budget:** 
  **budget Years Columns:** 
    - 2026
  **budget Topic Action Map:** 
    **112887:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-03 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 16000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-21
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 4
        **max Contribution:** 4000000
        **min Contribution:** 4000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-12-18
    **112888:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 15000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-21
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 5000000
        **min Contribution:** 4000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-12-18
    **112889:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 15000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-21
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 5000000
        **min Contribution:** 4000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-12-18
    **112890:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-05 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 21000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-21
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 7000000
        **min Contribution:** 7000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-12-18
    **112891:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 15000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-21
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 5000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-12-18
**keywords:** HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-04, HORIZON-CL5-2026-07
**last synced at:** 2026-11-09T17:23:17.403+00:00

## Review record

No independent verification record is available.

## Source metadata