Fossil Fuel Companies: The Climate Change Culprits?

Fossil fuel companies have long been aware of the link between their products and climate change. As early as the 1950s, oil industry scientists were raising concerns about the impacts of burning fossil fuels on the climate. Despite this knowledge, many of these companies have engaged in campaigns of deception and disinformation, working to block climate action and spread climate science denial. Instead of reducing their carbon emissions, these companies have prioritised profits and have often worked behind the scenes to undermine or limit the scope of climate policies and regulations. This has resulted in severe environmental consequences and has contributed to the climate crisis we face today. With their large-scale extraction and distribution of oil, gas, and coal, fossil fuel companies bear a significant responsibility for the damage caused to our planet.

Fossil fuel companies' early knowledge of climate change

Fossil fuel companies have long been aware of the connection between their products, burning fossil fuels, and climate change. This knowledge dates back decades, with some sources claiming that the industry has been cognizant of this link as early as the 1950s and 1960s. Despite this early understanding, these companies chose to deny and distort the evidence, engaging in campaigns of disinformation and uncertainty to delay action and protect their profits.

Early Knowledge and Internal Acknowledgment

The oil industry's awareness of the impact of fossil fuels on the climate can be traced back to the second half of the 20th century. As early as 1959, industry scientists confirmed that burning fossil fuels contributed to anthropogenic climate change. This confirmation came in the form of Shell's article, "The Earth's Carbon Cycle", which acknowledged the significant amount of carbon released into the atmosphere each year through the burning of fossil fuels and conceded that it "might conceivably change the climate."

By the late 1970s, Exxon (now ExxonMobil), one of the world's largest oil and gas companies, also possessed a significant understanding of climate change. In July 1977, James Black, Exxon's senior scientist, delivered a stark message to the company's management committee:

> "In the first place, there is general scientific agreement that the most likely manner in which mankind is influencing the global climate is through carbon dioxide release from the burning of fossil fuels."

Black's statement was followed by a warning in 1978, where he predicted that doubling the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would lead to a two- or three-degree increase in average global temperatures, consistent with today's scientific consensus. He also emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that there was a "time window of five to 10 years before the need for hard decisions regarding changes in energy strategies might become critical."

Spreading Disinformation and Denial

Despite their internal acknowledgment of climate change, fossil fuel companies actively worked to obscure the science and prevent meaningful action. They employed tactics such as promoting misinformation, funding climate denial campaigns, and emphasizing uncertainty in scientific conclusions.

Exxon, for example, spent decades refusing to publicly acknowledge climate change and even promoted climate misinformation. They became a leader in campaigns of confusion, helping to create the Global Climate Coalition to question the scientific basis for concern about climate change and successfully preventing the US from signing the Kyoto Protocol in 1998.

Other instances of disinformation include Shell's 1998 Report, "Climate Change: What does Shell Think and Do About It?" In this report, Shell acknowledged the connection between climate change and fossil fuel burning but failed to pledge emissions reductions. Instead, they claimed that they would address climate change by continuing to produce oil and gas, emphasizing economic growth and technological innovation.

Ongoing Accountability Efforts

The actions of fossil fuel companies have had profound implications for the planet and humanity. Their campaigns of disinformation and denial have delayed action on climate change, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions and more severe climate impacts.

In recent years, there have been growing efforts to hold these companies accountable. Leaked documents and investigations have revealed the extent of their deception, leading to a wave of lawsuits against major fossil fuel companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron. Experts and advocates are calling for these companies to bear their fair share of responsibility for the damage caused and to stop funding and spreading climate disinformation.

Fossil fuel companies' promotion of climate misinformation

Fossil fuel companies have a long history of promoting climate misinformation to shape public perception and policy around climate change. They have used advertising and communications to shape public opinion and political policy, spending billions of dollars each year. This has led to confusion and doubt around climate change and has been used to manipulate public and policy perception.

One of the main tactics used by fossil fuel companies is to cast doubt on the reality, cause, severity, and solvability of climate change. They have also used "advertorials"—ads disguised as editorials—in prominent publications to propagate their denial narrative. Some ads sought to create doubt about the reality and human contribution to climate change, framing it as a mere theory rather than a scientific fact. Others have downplayed the severity of the crisis, using headlines like "reset the alarm" to suggest the issue wasn't as urgent as claimed.

Fossil fuel companies have also emphasised the potential economic risks associated with climate action, diverting attention from environmental impacts to financial concerns. They have built a narrative of dependence on fossil fuels for economic growth, arguing that transitioning to renewables will be more expensive and less impactful. This is despite the fact that the oil and gas sector has seen record profits over the past two years, with the entire industry making an estimated $4000 billion in profits in 2022.

In addition to advertising, fossil fuel companies have also influenced climate policy by funding politicians who are friendly to their interests. They have also actively worked against ESG and emissions reduction regulations, lobbying politicians to block climate legislation. This has further contributed to the delay in meaningful action on climate change.

To combat this misinformation, some companies, like Meta, have introduced climate science centres and expanded their flagging systems for climate-related posts. Additionally, over 50 Canadian ad firms have joined a 900-strong global group that has pledged not to work for the fossil fuel industry, refusing to be complicit in spreading disinformation.

The role of fossil fuel companies in blocking climate action

Fossil fuel companies have played a significant role in blocking climate action, often putting profit and shareholder value ahead of the planet and people's lives. Oil, gas, and coal companies share a large responsibility for the climate crisis, as the burning of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide (CO2), the main driver of climate change. Despite this, many fossil fuel companies have knowingly deceived the public about climate science and policy, engaging in campaigns of disinformation and lobbying to prevent climate action.

One notable example is ExxonMobil, which has been accused of spreading climate disinformation and misleading the public about basic climate science. In 2017, researchers from Harvard University published a series of studies on the climate communications of ExxonMobil, revealing systematic discrepancies between what the company said privately and what it communicated to the public. ExxonMobil has been accused of attacking science and scientists, undermining and delaying climate action, and employing subtle and sophisticated propaganda to shape public opinion.

The fossil fuel industry has also influenced politicians and regulators through lobbying and funding. In the United States, a powerful fossil fuel lobby has spent vast sums of money to influence lawmakers and spread doubt about climate science. For example, the Koch brothers, conservative petrochemical magnates, have poured millions of dollars into efforts to discredit climate science. Exxon has also been implicated in funding climate-change-denying think tanks and advocacy groups.

Additionally, fossil fuel companies have been accused of "greenwashing," a tactic where they market themselves as part of the climate solution while actively working to undermine or limit the scope of climate policies and regulations. For instance, companies like Shell have acknowledged the connection between climate change and the burning of fossil fuels but have failed to pledge to reduce their carbon emissions. Instead, they promote market-based solutions that prioritize economic growth and technological innovation over emissions reductions.

Fossil fuel companies' deception about their commitment to climate goals

Fossil fuel companies have a long history of deceiving the public and policymakers about their commitment to climate goals. Despite knowing about the connection between their products and climate change, these companies have engaged in campaigns of disinformation and denial to protect their profits and avoid government regulation. This has included everything from counterfeit science and harassing scientists to manufacturing uncertainty and spreading climate deception through front groups and industry trade associations.

One of the key tactics used by fossil fuel companies is to emphasise uncertainty and manufacture doubt. As early as the 1950s, oil industry scientists raised concerns about the impacts of oil and gas on the climate. However, instead of taking action, companies chose to downplay and distort the evidence. For example, a 1959 article by a Shell scientist acknowledged that burning fossil fuels "might conceivably change the climate" but employed just enough doubt to cast uncertainty on the suggested climatic threats. This doubtful rhetoric became a common industry ploy to instill uncertainty in the public and generate distrust in scientific facts.

Another tactic is the use of front groups and industry trade associations, such as the Global Climate Coalition (GCC) and the American Petroleum Institute (API), to spread disinformation and oppose climate action. These groups often claim to support climate goals while working behind the scenes to undermine or limit the scope of climate policies and regulations—a tactic known as "greenwashing". For example, BP's net-zero pledges include Scope 3 portions, which are framed as "helping customers" reduce emissions. However, these portions account for about 85% of the company's total contribution to global warming, and BP is not taking direct responsibility for reducing these emissions. Similarly, Chevron has drafted talking points that frame oil and gas as vital to a "just transition" to cleaner energy, while continuing to invest heavily in fossil fuels.

Fossil fuel companies have also been accused of peddling false solutions and greenwashing through their involvement in academic institutions. For example, in 2008, BP, Exxon, and Shell announced plans to research and develop algae biofuels, signalling a commitment to exploring low-carbon fuel alternatives. However, these plans turned out to be greenwashing schemes, as all companies ended their algae biofuels programs by 2023. Additionally, these companies have spent millions of dollars influencing leading academic institutions, with research funded by the fossil fuel industry tending to be more favourable to methane gas than renewable energy.

The deception and delay tactics used by fossil fuel companies have real-world consequences. By blocking climate action and spreading doubt, these companies have contributed to the climate crisis and the suffering of communities worldwide. It is clear that these companies prioritise profit over people's lives and the health of the planet. As such, there are growing calls for accountability and litigation to hold these companies responsible for their deceptive practices and potential fraud.

Fossil fuel companies' greenwashing through advertising

Fossil fuel companies are facing increasing scrutiny from climate activists and environmental lawyers for their advertising practices, which are often accused of greenwashing. Greenwashing refers to the practice of misleading consumers by presenting a company or product as more environmentally friendly than it actually is.

Despite growing pressure to curb greenwashing, major oil and gas companies such as BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Aramco have been accused of promoting environmentally friendly narratives that their core business practices do not support. These companies have been found to invest heavily in advertising campaigns that highlight their climate pledges and preferred solutions to climate change, such as carbon capture and storage, renewable energy sources, and biofuels. However, these advertisements often fail to disclose the small percentage of overall investment allocated to these technologies and their limitations.

For example, ExxonMobil's "Powering Progress" ad campaign presents the company as a leader in green technologies, showcasing its work on "algae farms" and carbon capture technology. However, ExxonMobil has refused to set absolute emissions reduction targets and continues to invest primarily in oil and gas production. Similarly, German energy giant RWE's advertising campaign positions the company as focusing on renewable energies and a "sustainable world," while remaining the largest emitter in Europe and generating coal-fired electricity until at least 2038.

In response to these deceptive advertising practices, environmental lawyers and climate activists have taken legal action and launched campaigns to hold fossil fuel companies accountable. ClientEarth, for instance, has published the Greenwashing Files, analysing the advertising of some of the world's biggest fossil fuel companies and comparing their public claims to the reality of their business activities. The group is calling for tobacco-style advertising bans and health warnings to curb deceptive fossil fuel marketing.

Additionally, Fossil Free Media, founded by climate activist Jamie Henn, aims to disrupt the fossil fuel industry's propaganda by providing public relations and communications support to grassroots groups advocating for climate justice. Their Clean Creatives campaign pressures advertising and PR agencies to break their ties with the fossil fuel industry, with over 100 agencies signing a pledge to stop working with fossil fuel clients.

The efforts of these organisations and campaigns highlight the growing public demand for transparency and accountability from fossil fuel companies and their advertising partners. With the world facing a climate crisis, it is crucial that companies do not mislead consumers about their environmental impact and commitments.

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