Message From the Editor

This week, DeSmog investigative reporter Geoff Dembicki was barred from the LNG2023 conference happening in Vancouver. He discovered that his registration was rejected, despite “media” being an accepted registration category, only after traveling to the city to cover the conference.

LNG2023 describes itself as “the largest global LNG industry conference,” operating for 54 years. One of the major focuses this year is growing Canada’s west coast gas export industry. DeSmog has covered these projects extensively, specifically the LNG Canada venture and the pro-oil and gas expansion CEO of a First Nations advocacy group accepting major contributions from Canada's top oil and gas producers.

“It’s a shame that the public won’t be able to learn what the industry is planning, given the gigantic impact fossil fuel expansion is having on British Columbia waterways, Indigenous sovereignty and the global climate,” says Dembicki.

Later in the week, dozens of climate protesters showed up outside the Vancouver Convention Centre to criticize decisions being made inside.

Over in Europe, a US oil-linked pressure group is attacking EU green policies. Consumer Choice Center, which is linked to the Koch fossil fuel network, has advocated against green regulations in the EU without being registered as a lobbying group. This puts the organization in breach of EU transparency rules.

Vicky Cann from LobbyFacts says it is “absolutely fundamental” for organizations to publish their funding sources, “we need to understand why an organization is advocating certain positions.”

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Thanks,
Brendan DeMelle
Executive Director

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Image credit: Geoff Dembicki

Organizers of Global Gas Conference ‘Refuse’ Entry to DeSmog Reporter

— By Brendan DeMelle (3 min. read) —

Geoff Dembicki, an investigative climate reporter for DeSmog whose work has informed inquires in the Canadian Senate and earned high praise from outlets including the Washington Post was “denied” entry to a major global gas conference taking place in Vancouver this week.

“The manager has exercised his right to refuse the registration application and you will not be able to participate in LNG2023,” reads an email from conference organizers to DeSmog contributor Dembicki, who is author of “The Petroleum Papers,” which was last year shortlisted for the Hilary Weston Writers Trust Prize for Non-Fiction and named a best book of 2022 by the Post.

Protesters Accuse Executives at ‘Low-Carbon’ Gas Conference of Telling ‘A Dirty Lie’

— By Geoff Dembicki (2 min. read) —

Executives from the world’s largest gas companies are meeting in British Columbia this week for a conference marketing Canada’s liquefied natural gas industry as providing “low-carbon” energy solutions to the world.  

But dozens of climate protesters who showed up outside the Vancouver Convention Centre Tuesday morning delivered a much different message to the suit-wearing delegates of LNG2023, a global gathering of gas industry leaders held annually for more than 50 years.

US Oil-Linked Pressure Group Attacks EU Green Policies, Breaks Lobbying Rules

— By Clare Carlile (7 min. read) —

Consumer Choice Center, a libertarian outfit, has advocated against green regulations in the EU without being registered as a lobbying group, DeSmog can reveal.

The US-based organization – which has links to a network of fossil fuel funded think tanks and advocacy groups – has opposed climate-friendly measures in Europe, such as the phase-out of petrol cars and green farming reforms, despite being removed from the lobby register over a year ago.

Connecticut bans utilities from billing customers for lobbying efforts

— By Akielly Hu with Grist (4 min. read) —

This story was originally published by Grist, and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate crisis.

On June 29, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a law to prohibit the state’s investor-owned utilities from charging customers for lobbying expenses and other efforts to sway political outcomes. The new law marks the third comprehensive effort by a state to prevent utilities from using consumers’ monthly bills to fund political efforts, following a similar law passed in Colorado in May and a law that Maine Governor Janet Mills signed in late June.

Drax Accused of ‘Desperate’ Campaign to Influence Selby By-Election Candidates

— By Phoebe Cooke (6 min. read) —

Drax, the company that runs Britain’s biggest power station, stands accused by residents of “brazen politicking” in a closely fought by-election contest in Selby and Ainsty, North Yorkshire.

DeSmog can reveal that Drax is co-hosting a hustings with five of the local candidates on Wednesday evening, and has encouraged its allies both to attend the event and offer statements in support of the firm.

From the Climate Disinformation Database: Atlas Network

Atlas Network is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that describes itself as working to support a growing network of more than 500 “free market” organizations in nearly 100 countries promoting free market ideas. Atlas Network is the trading name of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Many of the member think tanks of the Atlas Network have supported climate science denial and have campaigned against legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The Atlas Network has received funding from Koch foundations and various fossil fuel firms. Students for Liberty, the parent group of the Consumer Choice Center, has received donations of over $100,000 from the Atlas Network.

Read the full profile and browse other individuals and organizations in our Climate Disinformation Database and Koch Network Database.