Dutch news website Nu.nl is banning people who deny the involvement of humans in climate change from commenting on its readers’ reactions section.

‘You can disagree with the government’s climate plans on NUjij, we encourage critical discussion about the measure to which the Netherlands can make a difference, and you can certainly set out why you think climate change has progressed too far to be tackled,’ the website said.

‘Only reactions in which climate change – and the influence of people on it – are denied are no longer allowed on Nu.nl.’

The aim, the website says, is to make sure that visitors to the website are provided with reliable information. ‘That is why it is not allowed to spread untruths,’ the website said.

Editor in chief Gert-Jaap Hoekman told broadcaster NPO1 the new rules will apply to comments which spread nonsense, such as ‘saying climate change is a hoax or that carbon dioxide has no impact on the earth’s warming up’.