Here’s what it would look like if fossil fuel ads had warning labels
If all you saw were BP’s ads, you’d think the company’s top priority
was investing in renewable energy. Like other oil majors, the company
has embraced green marketing
to rehabilitate its image after decades of misleading the public about
the negative consequences of burning fossil fuels. But the truth of the
matter is that companies like BP, ExxonMobil, and Chevron are still
laser-focused on the thing they do best: finding and selling more oil.
was investing in renewable energy. Like other oil majors, the company
has embraced green marketing
to rehabilitate its image after decades of misleading the public about
the negative consequences of burning fossil fuels. But the truth of the
matter is that companies like BP, ExxonMobil, and Chevron are still
laser-focused on the thing they do best: finding and selling more oil.
A new complaint
against BP from environmental law firm ClientEarth alleges the company
is misleading the public by claiming it is dedicated to tackling the
climate crisis. The legal action centers around a marketing initiative
the oil company launched early this year, which has peppered
newspapers, billboards, and television screens across the U.S. and
Europe with claims that BP is committed to the transition to clean
energy.
“While BP’s advertising focuses on clean energy, in reality, more
than 96 percent of the company’s annual capital expenditure is on oil
and gas,” ClientEarth climate lawyer Sophie Marjanac said in a
statement.