Misleading Claims on Climate Progress are Everywhere…

… and the problem is getting worse.

In a world that offers daily evidence of a heightening climate crisis, it couldn’t be more crucial to have clarity about our plans for a healthier planet. Despite this, powerful groups are using their platforms to obscure the truth about their climate (in)action and distract from their inexcusably damaging practices, making it much more difficult to find trustworthy information along the way.

Of course, there are some things we can say with confidence. We know what needs to be done and, for the most part, who needs to take action. But some of the individuals and organizations that hold the greatest power to move us in the right direction haven’t just brushed off their obligation to make improvements—they’re actually doing something more insidious.

They’ll work hard to make it seem like they’re serious about climate action while avoiding any real investment. The actions they’re taking don’t match the carefully crafted statements they’re releasing, pontificating about their own progress. Worst of all, these deliberate messages aren’t designed just to protect reputations. They’re creating an environment that shields their destructive practices from seeing the light of day, allowing them to continue in secrecy.

Harmful Decisions in the Halls of Congress

As detailed by this opinion in The New York Times, the recent willingness of Congress to move forward on the Mountain Valley Pipeline takes short-term thinking to its furthest (and most consequential) extreme. The natural gas project provides some political victories for each party and was enveloped within the crucial legislation needed to raise the debt ceiling. In establishing its approval, the bill contains language that defies objective reality, describing the Mountain Valley Pipeline as an effort that aids the transition to clean energy.

This project facilitates the fracking and transportation of more natural gas through Virginia and West Virginia. As these operations begin taking place, a new source of methane emissions (the second largest cause of global warming) will be added to the world. It’s simply and obviously wrong to describe this damaging outcome as an effective climate solution.

It’s especially frustrating to recognize that the Mountain Valley Pipeline is being constructed as a brand new project, making use of money and resources that could otherwise be used to build energy infrastructure that would actually move us forward in addressing the climate crisis. Renewables like wind and solar are very affordable, often undercutting the prices of energy generated by fossil fuels. Clean power projects create good jobs, with support available through programs like the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program. By offering financial resources to communities that are transitioning production facilities from dirty fossil fuels to renewables, the program is directly relevant to the geographic area affected by the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Plus, demand continues to grow for sources of energy that don’t rely on oil and gas. It clearly would have been the practical choice to prioritize clean power over a new, disruptive, and entirely unnecessary pipeline project.

All of these factors underscore the point that Congress’ decision to build the Mountain Valley Pipeline is rooted in political gamesmanship rather than actual need, and the decision to describe it as an act in support of the clean energy transition is a straightforward attempt to maintain two conflicting narratives: One for constituents and members of the public who are growing increasingly vocal about the need to enact meaningful climate action, and another for oil and gas executives with very deep pockets.

This shortsighted decision by Congress relies on a misleading explanation to justify a project that will end up causing harm. As the urgency for climate action continues to grow more apparent, this kind of bait-and-switch behavior can’t happen again.

Big Oil’s Attempts to Mislead Through Advertising

The clever language and weak arguments being put forth by Congress are completely unacceptable, but common practices within big oil and gas companies are even more egregious. Their profits depend on keeping consumers hooked to a steady flow of fossil fuels, so they’ll do whatever it takes to avoid easing a widespread transition to renewable energy—no matter how loudly or how frequently they say otherwise.

And they certainly do try to convince us that they’re some of the good guys. In 2022, a study found that five of the oil and gas supermajors (BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies) collectively boasted of clean energy commitments in at least 60 percent of their advertising materials. For comparison, less than 25 percent of ads focused on promoting oil and gas.

Meanwhile, the money isn’t there. A recent report on energy investments from the International Energy Agency shows a shockingly low level of funding from the oil and gas industry being directed to advance low carbon solutions. Only one percent of cash spending in 2022 went toward low carbon technologies. At the same time, the amount of money being funneled to shareholder dividends and stock buybacks skyrocketed to an all-time high.

Let’s be clear: Big Oil was never going to save us. It’s not particularly surprising to see this lack of financial commitment for the pursuit of cleaner energies—these corporations have consistently proven that their one true allegiance lies with the profits they make. They’re not going to invest their money into sources of power that are more democratic by nature, weakening their grip on the global flow of energy and leaving them with fewer ways to make their bottom-line numbers even more extravagant.

But the decision to make clean energy the central element of their advertising campaigns, while taking virtually no real action, is nothing short of outrageous. Fortunately, it seems like their underhanded tactics have become too toxic (and too blatant) to succeed much longer.

Media agencies bidding to win Shell’s lucrative advertising account have come under scrutiny as the trend toward misleading messaging has become more obvious. In the United Kingdom, the Advertising Standards Authority banned the corporation’s latest campaign after deciding its clean energy claims were unacceptably misrepresentative.

Again, Big Oil will never be the hero in this story. No matter what they say, industry giants will remain beholden to their shareholders before the planet or its people. We have to remain vigilant about dishonest claims and make it clear that image-driven efforts to improve the environmental legacies of destructive companies are ineffective, ill-advised, and totally unacceptable.

The truth is this: our world needs clean energy. Despite the wishes of those who are poised to continue profiting from oil and gas, power sources that are better for the planet are growing in popularity and taking hold more quickly than ever. Still, as misinformation continues to cause real problems for the further development of renewable power in America, it’s essential that we seek out clear information on the progress we’re making and require accountability from those who try to stand in the way of a healthier, more responsible future.