False Solutions Project

FalseSolutions.org

Shining a light on greenwashing and “quick-fix” claims—so communities, funders, and policymakers can demand real solutions.

At FalseSolutions.org, we believe everyone deserves clear, accurate information on proposals that shape our planet and our future. We investigate, explain, and expose “false solutions”—ideas marketed as climate or environmental fixes that, in practice, delay action, deepen harms, or ignore root causes. That includes classic greenwashing (feel-good claims that don’t hold up), as well as policies and technologies that keep pollution in place while pretending to solve it. (falsesolutions.org)

What we expose

Corporate and political greenwashing that misleads the public and distracts from real change. (United Nations)
Techno-fixes like carbon capture/CCS and CCUS promoted as silver bullets while enabling more fossil fuel extraction and pollution. (falsesolutions.org)
Policy “solutions” that sound ambitious but fail to address root causes or protect frontline communities. (falsesolutions.org)

How we work

Investigations & explainers that cut through jargon and marketing to show what proposals really do. (falsesolutions.org)
Accessible resources that communities and decision-makers can use to spot red flags and push for better alternatives. (falsesolutions.org)
Accountability—calling out false claims and uplifting community-centered, proven solutions. (falsesolutions.org)

Why it matters

False solutions burn time, money, and public trust—while leaving pollution and injustice intact. By separating facts from spin, we help communities, journalists, funders, and policymakers choose strategies that actually reduce emissions and protect health. (United Nations)

If you’d like, I can tailor this with a Call to Action box (e.g., “Report a tip,” “Explore case studies,” “Get the False Solutions checklist”) and link it to your key pages.

lEARN MORE HERE: WWW.FalseSolutions.org

Short term Goals:
Publish 12–20 investigations with plain-language explainers that debunk common false solutions and greenwashing claims.

Launch a community tipline and review protocol (including a rights-based/Indigenous impacts checklist) to vet submissions.

Build a public case-study library with fact sheets, citations, and “red-flag” indicators for policymakers, journalists, and funders.

Host quarterly trainings/webinars for frontline and Indigenous communities on spotting false solutions and demanding better alternatives.

Establish a partner network (community orgs, researchers, watchdogs) to co-develop investigations and share data.

Create a media toolkit (terminology guide, interview briefs, visuals) to improve reporting accuracy and reduce greenwashing in coverage.

Start a monthly newsletter and grow to 5,000+ subscribers, tracking opens/clicks to refine content.
Long term Goals:
Maintain a public database of 200+ cases categorized by sector (energy, plastics, carbon markets, etc.) with impacts on frontline/Indigenous communities.

Influence policy and funding: secure policy corrections, retracted claims, or procurement changes that phase out false solutions.

Offer a Community Investigator Fellowship to train local researchers and youth in evidence gathering and storytelling.

Expand multilingual access (e.g., Spanish, Portuguese) and culturally relevant materials for transnational use.

Publish an Annual False Solutions Report Card benchmarking corporate/policy claims against real-world outcomes.

Form long-term research partnerships with universities and public-interest labs to strengthen methods, FOIA support, and data transparency.

Develop a funders’ due-diligence framework that redirects investments from false solutions to community-led, proven alternatives.