{"id":2232,"date":"2019-10-24T07:00:33","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T05:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eu-unit\/?p=2232"},"modified":"2025-07-02T09:09:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:09:37","slug":"big-oil-spent-lobbying-eu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eu-unit\/issues\/climate-energy\/2232\/big-oil-spent-lobbying-eu\/","title":{"rendered":"Big oil spent over \u20ac250 lobbying the EU"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels<\/strong> \u2013 The world\u2019s five big oil and gas majors and their lobbyists have spent at least 251 million euro lobbying the EU since 2010, new research reveals<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 as almost 200 civil society organisations demand fossil free politics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Investigations show that BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Total \u2013 the world\u2019s five biggest publicly-traded oil and gas companies \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The research was commissioned by Corporate Europe Observatory, Food & Water Europe, Friends of the Earth Europe, and Greenpeace EU, as part of a campaign calling for \u2018fossil free politics\u2019<\/a>, supported by organisations in Brussels, Europe and worldwide. The data was obtained from companies\u2019 own declarations in the EU\u2019s lobby transparency register and European Commissioners\u2019 published calendars of meetings. [1]<\/p>\n

As fossil fuel companies face increasing scrutiny, [2] the groups call on the European Commission\u2019s new President and Commissioners, MEPs, and governments to cut fossil fuel interests out of politics, wit restrictions similar to those on tobacco industry lobbyists. [3]<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 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\u2019 US$82 billion in profits last year. Those same companies were responsible for 7.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions between 1988 and 2015.<\/p>\n

Pascoe Sabido, researcher and campaigner for Corporate Europe Observatory<\/strong> said: \u201cBig 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 <\/em>billion over the last decade buys a lot of access and influence in Brussels.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Frida Kieninger, campaign officer for Food & Water Europe<\/strong> said: \u201cHaving 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<\/em>
\ncrisis.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Myriam Douo, corporate capture campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe<\/strong> said: \u201cGas, 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 climate protesters on our streets and cut fossil fuels out of our politics now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Sebastian Mang, climate policy adviser for Greenpeace EU<\/strong> said: \u201cBig 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\u2019s time our governments hold them to account.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

For more information, contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robbie Blake, communications team, Friends of the Earth Europe<\/strong>, robbie.blake@foeeurope.org , (+32) (0)2 893 1010, (+32) (0)491 290096<\/p>\n

Pascoe Sabido, Researcher and Campaigner, Corporate Europe Observatory<\/strong>, pascoe@corporateeurope.org , (+44) (0)7969 665 189<\/p>\n

Frida Kieninger, campaigns officer, Food & Water Europe<\/strong>, fkieninger@fweurope.org , (+32) (0)487 249905<\/p>\n

Sebastian Mang, climate policy adviser, Greenpeace European Unit<\/strong>, sebastian.mang@greenpeace.org , (+32) (0)479 60 12 89<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1] Companies\u2019 declarations of spending on lobbying in Brussels are voluntary and likely to underestimate real costs.<\/p>\n

[2] BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Total and other oil and gas companies are facing increasing scrutiny:
\n\u25cf On Wednesday 23 October, the US Congress holds a hearing \u2018examining the oil industry\u2019s efforts to suppress the truth about climate change\u2019 https:\/\/docs.house.gov\/Committee\/Calendar\/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=110126 ;
\n\u25cf 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 https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/press\/3374\/worlds-first-climate-change-and-human-rights-liability-inquiry-nears-closure\/ ;
\n\u25cf In the Netherlands, Shell faces a court case to compel the company to cease its destruction of the climate http:\/\/www.foeeurope.org\/see-you-in-court-Shell-05041 ;
\n\u25cf In New York, the Supreme Court started a trial looking into claims that Exxon misled investors about climate change https:\/\/www.climateliabilitynews.org\/2019\/09\/10\/exxon-climate-fraud-courts-lawsuits\/ .<\/p>\n

[3] The WHO\u2019s framework convention on tobacco control includes measures to restrict tobacco industry lobbying https:\/\/www.who.int\/fctc\/guidelines\/article_5_3.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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