The purpose of this article is to form a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of false environmental conflict. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were set: to identify the main distinguishing features of false environmental conflicts and, based on this, to compile an author's definition of a false environmental conflict; to identify the main approaches to classifying these conflicts and identify their types. Special attention is paid to the peculiarities of modern communication – digitalization, media development trend, the use of generative content – and their role in shaping the prerequisites for the emergence and escalation of false environmental conflict. The key research methods are theoretical analysis and synthesis, the auxiliary method is case study, or the method of specific situations, as well as the classification method. The research's source base consists of the work of sociologists who adhere to a conflictological approach, as well as the work of leading Russian conflict experts and media materials. As a result of the research, the definition of a false environmental conflict was formulated and its signs were highlighted: in addition to the fact that the environment is not its object, it is characterized by an unconstructive nature, the propensity of one of the parties to radical solutions, the participation of interested third parties and a high level of politicization. In addition, the paper presents the basics of the author's classification of false environmental conflicts by their causes, including epistemological difficulties, communication deficiencies, the dissemination of fake information, and the use of environmental arguments for political and economic purposes. The theoretical and practical significance of the study are closely related to each other: by offering a definition of a false environmental conflict, a list of its mandatory and indirect signs, the study contributes to the formation of a theoretical basis for the further development of technologies for recognizing false environmental conflicts and effective strategies for managing these conflicts.