Under The Impression Energy Majors Are Greenwashing And Nothing Else? Guess What - You're Right.

[hatrack]

There is a “mismatch” between the public statements of four of the world’s largest oil and gas companies and their actions and investments on clean energy, according to new research that analyzed 12 years of data. The study, published yesterday in the journal PLOS One, focused on Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., BP PLC and Shell PLC. Those companies are responsible for more than 10 percent of global carbon emissions since 1965, the study noted.

Using data collected between 2009 and 2020, researchers from Kyoto University and Tohoku University said none of the four majors have entered the renewables market at a scale “that would indicate a shift away from fossil fuels” and that the business models of each company are still dependent on fossil fuels. The authors called for more transparency around each company’s definition of words such as “low-carbon,” “clean energy” and “renewables” and said that until the areas of discourse, actions and investment are “brought into alignment, we conclude that accusations of greenwashing by oil majors are well-founded.”

EDIT

The authors said the number of mentions of words like “transition,” “low-carbon energy,” and “climate change” increased in annual reports over the research period, particularly for Shell and BP. California-based Chevron is the “only major not showing a noticeable increase,” the study said, with the word “climate” missing from annual reports in 2009 to 2011. But while there’s been a rise in keywords used, the study concluded that “American majors continuously exhibit defensive attitudes to renewables investment” and a need to move away from fossil fuels.

EDIT

Spokespeople for the oil and gas companies highlighted their net-zero ambitions and noted that the period looked at by the paper ends in 2020. “In 2020 BP set out our new net zero ambition, aims and strategy — including our aim to become an integrated energy company,” said Josh Hicks, a BP spokesperson, in a statement. “In 2021 we completed the largest transformation of the company in our history to deliver these.” “Because this paper looks back historically over the period 2009-2020, we don’t believe it will take these developments and our progress fully into account,” he continued.

(Ed. - "But! But! But! But! But!" )

EDIT

https://www.eenews.net/articles/are-oil-majors-greenwashing-what-12-years-of-data-show/

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

1. Just as I suspected. I don't believe corporations are people,

but even if they were, they'd be very dishonest people.

[appalachiablue]

2. What a sad state but it fits the times