In spite of the occasional bit of good news, most of the landscape is pretty bleak. Big corporations and governments around the world are finally starting to say the right things about the Climate And Ecological Emergency; it's only taken them 50 years since science showed unequivocally what a catastrophe we are heading towards. Unfortunately their fine words are often accompanied by lies, half truths and disinformation. We will be highlighting some of the most spectacular examples of this cynical behaviour and awarding them "Certified 100% Greenwash". If you have any examples of Greenwash you'd like to share or would like to get in touch, please use
G7 GREENWASH
The G7 (or Group of Seven) is an intergovernmental organisation made up of the world's seven largest advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The group has met regularly since 1976 to discuss key issues related to global economic stability. The group comprises Finance Ministers and Governors of Central Banks, representatives of the European Union, including the EU Presidency and European Central Bank attend as well as heads of international financial institutions.
With the eyes of the world on them, you'd think the Government would be taking extra care to live up to their fine words on the Climate and Ecological Emergency ....... well, think again !
What the UK Government says
We will take all possible action to mitigate climate change, while adapting to reduce its impact (11/1/18)
What the UK Government does
Gave the green light on the construction of Europe's largest fossil fuel plant at Drax site in Yorkshire, over-ruling the planning inspector's verdict that it was incompatible with the Paris Agreement obligations. (4/10/19)
Continue to issue licenses for new offshore oil and gas exploration In 2020, UK issued 113 new 27-30 year licences for oil & gas exploration and extraction - 5th largest total licensed area in the world (3/9/20)
Gave the green light on a new deep coal mine in Cumbria - the first in 30 years - with lifetime emissions estimated at 420 million tons of CO2 (more than UK's total annual emissions). Now under review (6/1/21)
Gave £16 billion funding package to the oil and gas sector to encourage the sector to decarbonise, with no time frame set for doing so. (24/3/21)
What the UK Government says
"The UK will double its investment to help developing countries turn the tide against climate change" (23/3/19)
"The UK is committed to securing our path to global net zero"
"Climate is the UK’s foremost international priority”.
What the UK Government does
UKEF and HM Treasury guaranteed over $1 billion in financial support for a methane gas project in Mozambique - UK's largest single investment. (Still set to go ahead despite recent government decision to end funding for fossil fuel projects overseas) (17/7/20)
Used £3.5 billon of public funds to support fossil fuel projects via UK Export Finance since joining the Paris Agreement (2016-2017)
Increased UKEF funding for overseas fossil fuel projects 11-fold to nearly £2bn over 12 months as support for renewables fell to £700,000. (2018 - 2019)
What the UK Government says
We will deliver a stronger, cleaner, more sustainable economy after this pandemic."
"The government will build back better, build back greener, build back faster (3/8/20)
What the UK Government does
Only allocated 20% of Covid-19 recovery spending for 'green' policy (according to Oxford & UNDP analysis) (1/3/21)
Prioritised high carbon industries (i.e. carmakers, oil companies and aviation) in Covid-19 relief funding - providing £4.9 billion in bailouts and loans - with zero environmental conditions. (10/2/21)
Bank of England has poured £875 billion into the economy in 2020 with zero environmental conditions through 'Quantitative Easing', despite mandate to support government climate goals. (1/11/20)
What the UK Government says
"We will support clean transport to ensure clean air" (1/11/19)
What the UK Government does
Froze petrol, diesel and some red-diesel duties for 11th consecutive year at the estimated annual cost of £11.2 billion (according to Institute of Fiscal Studies) (3/3/21)
Announced their £27 billion road expansion programme - the largest ever in England - (for which the DfT is currently facing legal action for ignoring official advice to consider policy in line with climate obligations and for grossly underestimating the emissions output from the scheme) (11/3/20)
Plan to cut Air Passenger Duty on UK domestic flights (10/3/21)
Cut Air Passenger Duty for short and medium haul flights for 9th year in a row (3/3/21)
Failed to call-in current expansion plans at 25 major commercial UK airports, many of which aim to double passenger numbers by 2030 despite CCC directive for no net airport expansion
What the UK Government says
£9.2bn in support for energy efficiency in existing homes, schools and hospitals (1/11/19)
What the UK Government does
Only allocated £3bn of funding to improve energy efficiency in homes, schools and hospitals - £1bn of which was then withdrawn a year later.(1/11/20)
What the UK Government says
We are taking the lead with an ambitious new target to reduce our emissions [by 68%] by 2030, faster than any major economy (4/12/20)
What the UK Government does
Off-track to meet 57% reduction in emissions by 2032 (i.e. Fifth Carbon Budget) (1/6/20)
What the UK Government says
By COP26 we need every country to have stepped up, with Long-Term Strategies and clear policies...that put us on track to 1.5 degrees
What the UK Government does
Environment ministry still have no plan or policies in place to meet emissions target, according to internal memo (5/5/21)
Failing on 17 out of 21 annual progress indicators for Net-Zero by 2050 (1/6/20)
Off-track to meet 4th carbon budget of 50% reduction in emissions by 2027 (1/6/20)
BP's Hamble-le-Rice terminal has been blocked by Extinction Rebellion protesters in a demonstration against greenwashing.
The bar is set pretty low for Oil and Gas companies - along with their products they pump out an astonishing series of misinformation and lies about what they have been doing, and what they continue to do. If you read the sustainability statements on their website you might thing they were cleaner than clean - no obvious claims about increasing shareholder value .... and yet ....
Extinction Rebellion has today said enough is enough . In blocking the BP terminal they said it was protesting about what it called industry greenwashing – misleading people into thinking oil and gas was environmentally sound.
The group called on the UK industry regulator, the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), to end its policy on Maximum Economic Recovery of oil and gas. It also said the OGA should stop issuing new exploration and production licences.
The upcoming G7 talks in Cornwall later this month should agree to replace fossil fuel extraction with a transition that protects the world’s most vulnerable people, the group added.
Read more in
@BorisJohnson said the UK would "lead the way" on climate change as we prepare to host global climate talks, COP26.
So why did he sign off new oil and gas licences in the North Sea recently? (March '21). Read more here
