Tag: fossil fuel industry

Big Oil lied to us for decades about climate change.

The fossil fuel industry spends millions of dollars on shaping its image in an effort to block climate action. A new analysis shows a relatively small number of PR firms have aided this campaign from behind the scenes over the last three decades.

A DeSmog analysis found that the delegations from multiple countries are heavily drawn from their oil ministries and even large oil companies. Shell and other publicly traded oil giants are also attending the climate proceedings under the cover of trade groups.

“To keep 1.5 alive,” said the head of Greenpeace, “fossil fuels phase-out” must be added, and “countries must come back next year to close the gap.”

“Emissions snapped back like a rubber band.”

The pressure and devolving social license have even started to influence business leaders’ decisions.

Analysis found links to Exxon, Koch Industries, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, raising concerns about a potential “revolving door,” one campaigner said, between the insurance and fossil fuel industries.

From the U.S. to Japan, governments are quickly putting money behind oil and gas industry efforts selling blue hydrogen produced by natural gas with carbon capture as a clean fuel for the energy transition. But new research finds blue hydrogen may be no cleaner than burning natural gas.

Five of the individuals praised at COP26 event hold senior roles at fossil fuel companies and investors, including the Royal Bank of Canada and Suncor.

A major new catalogue of fossil fuel company adverts based on DeSmog’s research shows the gap between their public image and the reality of their operations.