ARIJ’s AFCN Concludes “Fact-Checking Climate Information” Training
August 14, 2025
The Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN) from ARIJ, concluded a three-day specialized training workshop titled “Fact-Checking Climate Information”, led by investigative journalist and coach at ARIJ Ahmed Ashour, with the participation of more than 70 journalists and fact-checkers from different Arab countries.
The training introduced methodologies and tools for fact-checking climate-related information, including analyzing scientific studies, identifying coordinated disinformation campaigns, and verifying images and videos using advanced digital techniques. The sessions combined theoretical learning with practical application, allowing participants to test the tools directly through exercises and real-world case studies.
The workshop also focused on introducing participants to the concepts of climate change and the different forms of climate disinformation, as well as its risks to public trust in science and climate action. The methodology of climate fact-checking was structured around four main pillars:
1- Fact-checking climate-related claims.
2- Measuring reach and impact.
3- Detecting organized disinformation campaigns.
4- Analyzing the broader publishing context.
Independent journalist Nada Hassan from Egypt, who participated in the workshop, said: “What I liked most about the training was the balance between theory and practice. It didn’t stop at presenting concepts, but also offered practical exercises that helped me test the tools directly.”
Another participant, Hanin Hamadeh, an independent journalist from Syria, highlighted how the training changed her perspective on environmental news: “I was amazed by the amount of information I gained, especially on the last day, regarding climate fact-checking in reports and images, and how to assess sources.”
Independent journalist Huda Hanaifah from Jordan emphasized the value of new tools: “I learned how to use resources such as Global Forest Watch and Retraction Watch Database to produce more accurate reports on water scarcity or vegetation, in addition to tools for identifying AI-generated accounts.”
Meanwhile, Bahraini investigative journalist and fact-checker Ghassan Al-Shihabi, described the training as “not just technical learning, but also an intellectual and ethical reflection on the role of journalism in protecting the truth.”
This workshop comes as part of ARIJ’s AFCN ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of journalists and fact-checkers in the region to counter disinformation, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to produce reliable content that addresses climate and environment-related mis/disinformation.
