Civil society organisations demand fossil free politics
The world’s five big oil and gas majors and their lobbyists have spent at least 251 million euros lobbying the EU since 2010, new research reveals – as almost 200 civil society organisations demand fossil free politics.
Investigations show that BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Total – the world’s five biggest publicly-traded oil and gas companies – and their lobby associations, currently employ 200 lobbyists in Brussels. They have held 327 high level meetings with top European Commission officials since European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker took office in 2014. That is the equivalent of more than one meeting a week to influence EU climate and energy decision-making.
Lobbying influence
Myriam Douo, corporate capture campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said:
“Gas, oil and coal companies are spending millions to maintain their stranglehold on our politics and our energy. But the climate can no longer afford their delay tactics. We must listen to the millions of young people on our streets protesting for the climate and cut fossil fuels out of our politics now.”
The research was commissioned by Corporate Europe Observatory, Food & Water Europe, Friends of the Earth Europe, and Greenpeace EU, as part of a new campaign calling for ‘fossil free politics’, supported by organisations in Brussels, Europe and worldwide. The data was obtained from companies’ own declarations in the EU’s lobby transparency register and European Commissioners’ published calendars of meetings.
Fossil fuels under scrutiny
As fossil fuel companies face increasing scrutiny, the groups call on the European Commission’s new President and Commissioners, MEPs, and governments to cut fossil fuel interests out of politics, with restrictions similar to those on tobacco industry lobbyists.
Fossil fuel industry lobbyists in Brussels and national capitals have, according to the groups, succeeded in delaying, weakening, and sabotaging EU action on the climate emergency – having watered down renewable energy, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas targets, while securing lucrative fossil fuel subsidies. This lobbying effort has helped contribute to the top five oil and gas companies’ US$82 billion in profits last year. Those same companies were responsible for 7.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions between 1988 and 2015.
Fossil free politics
Pascoe Sabido, researcher and campaigner for Corporate Europe Observatory said:
“Big polluters like Shell, BP and their lobby groups have delayed, weakened and sabotaged EU action on the climate emergency thanks to their hefty lobby spending. A cool quarter of a billion over the last decade buys a lot of access and influence in Brussels.”
#Fossilfuel big five spent €251m lobbying EU since 2010 – our report reveals.
TODAY we launch our call for a firewall to protect politics from industry influence #FossilFreePolitics https://t.co/4jikO0x6xp
— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) October 24, 2019
Frida Kieninger, campaign officer for Food & Water Europe said:
“Having tobacco lobbyists negotiating our public health laws is unthinkable today – and that’s just how we must treat fossil fuel lobbyists. Ending private meetings, cosy events and revolving doors can shut vested fossil fuel interests out of policy-making on the climate crisis.”
Sebastian Mang, climate policy adviser for Greenpeace EU said:
“Big oil and big gas are causing death and destruction in exchange for eye-watering profits. But millions of people are calling them out, as they face trial for their role in fuelling the climate emergency and trampling on human rights. It’s time our governments hold them to account.”
BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Total and other oil and gas companies are facing increasing scrutiny:
- On Wednesday 23 October, the US Congress held a hearing ‘examining the oil industry’s efforts to suppress the truth about climate change’
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In the Philippines, the Commission on Human Rights is investigating 47 fossil fuel companies (including the five companies above) for human rights impacts resulting from climate change
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In the Netherlands, Shell faces a court case to compel the company to cease its destruction of the climate ;
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In New York, the Supreme Court started a trial looking into claims that Exxon misled investors about climate change.
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Fossil Free Politics
Politicians should make climate laws to protect people – not please the fossil fuel industry. We need to cut fossil fuel interests out of our politics, similar to existing restrictions on the tobacco industry.
