What Is DeSmog and What Does the Website Cover?

DeSmog (desmog.com) is an investigative journalism outlet focused on climate change, founded in January 2006 with the stated mission of "clearing the PR pollution that is clouding the science and solutions to climate change." It publishes news, opinion and analysis, and maintains databases tracking climate disinformation, lobbying, and industry influence networks. It is most useful to readers who want to understand who is funding or shaping climate messaging, rather than those seeking general climate science explainers.

What kind of organization is it?

DeSmog describes itself as an international publication, with US and UK editions accessible from its main navigation. Its self-described purpose is to investigate and expose public relations efforts that obscure climate science and delay climate solutions. The site carries a "Subscribe" and "Donate" prompt in its header, indicating it solicits reader support, but the available page evidence does not specify subscription terms or pricing.

What topics does it cover?

The site organizes its reporting into clearly labeled sections, which gives a good picture of its editorial scope:

• Energy — fossil fuel industry activity and projects
• Science Denial — organized efforts to undermine climate science
• Ad & PR — public relations and advertising campaigns, including greenwashing
• Social Justice — climate impacts on communities and rights
• Agriculture — intensive livestock and agribusiness influence
• Politics and Policy — legislative and regulatory battles
• False Solutions — technologies or proposals DeSmog frames as inadequate responses
• Finance — investment and funding flows behind climate-related activity
• Canada — a dedicated regional section
• Opinion & Analysis — commentary alongside reported pieces

What formats and resources does it publish?

Beyond articles, DeSmog maintains databases on topics such as climate disinformation, agribusiness, the Koch Network, air pollution, and lobbying. It also runs a multimedia strand — photos, videos, cartoons, and maps — including mapped investigations of influence networks, such as routes of food-industry influence at COP30 and advertising/PR industry contracts from 2020–2024.

Recent examples from the homepage show the kind of output to expect: an investigation into how pro-oil groups generate viral content, reporting on objections to UN nature fund contribution terms, and coverage of community concerns about a proposed carbon capture project in Alberta.

When is it the right source for you?

DeSmog is a good fit if you want to trace the money, PR strategies, and networks behind climate messaging, or if you need a searchable database of climate disinformation and lobbying. It is less suited to readers looking for neutral summaries of climate science itself or for breaking general news. Because it is an advocacy-oriented investigative outlet, treat its framing as a perspective and cross-check specific claims against primary documents where decisions depend on them.