Plus, Why Alberta’s hydrogen strategy is a money-losing climate failure...

Message From the Editor

Did you know America’s most powerful oil trade association, the American Petroleum Institute, sponsored a Girl Scouts STEM merit badge to influence girls to think positively about natural gas and oil? Or that BP backs productions at Ford’s Theatre to access influential Washington stakeholders? 

Or that Shell considers its sponsorship of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival a partnership with a "business-critical U.S. stakeholder” — even though the annual R&B tribute takes place less than 100 miles away from Louisiana’s Cancer Alley, an area ravaged by fossil fuel pollution?

In a bombshell investigation, DeSmog’s Rebecca John sifted through thousands of subpoenaed documents to reveal that the oil industry uses tax-deductible sponsorships for arts and community organizations to allay public concerns over their role in the climate crisis while simultaneously lobbying against policies aimed at tackling it.  

Never-before-seen internal documents from last year’s congressional investigation into fossil fuel disinformation show companies including BP, Shell, and Chevron sponsored a range of arts and cultural groups, from the National Gallery of Art to the U.S. Olympic Committee, and even the British Museum and the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK — all to polish their image. 

The documents concerning oil giant BP “make it abundantly clear that BP’s cultural sponsorship has nothing to do with philanthropy," said Chris Garrard, director of the campaign group Culture Unstained, John writes.

In Garrard’s opinion, a sponsorship is not a donation. “It is a transaction that furthers BP’s business interests, resulting in more fossil fuel expansion, and empowering their broader political lobbying to impede international climate action," he said.

With U.S. President Trump axing funding for cultural institutions while also slashing environmental regulations, could we see even more of these kinds of sponsorship schemes? 

Read this explosive story to see which beloved organizations took Big Oil’s money. Also, check out The Guardian’s coverage of Rebecca’s latest work. 

Meanwhile, despite Canada’s election results that clearly repudiated Trump’s policies, some Canadians are still eager to jump on the Project 2025 bandwagon.

For example, meet Jeffrey Rath, the Calgary lawyer pushing for the province of Alberta to escape Canada’s federal climate rules by becoming America’s 51st state. It’s a bold and bizarre idea, and one tied closely to fossil fuel interests and American far-right allies, as Danielle Paradis writes.

Rath’s bid is backed by conservative U.S. think tanks and climate denial networks that see Alberta as a carbon-friendly haven. Read more here as we dig into the dark money network supporting the effort and what it says about the climate denial movement's global ambitions.

Have a story tip or feedback? Get in touch: [email protected]. Want to know what our UK team is up to? Sign up for our UK newsletter.
 
Thanks,
Brendan DeMelle
Executive Director

P.S. DeSmog continues to keep you informed about threats to our climate across the globe — from up-to-the minute reporting to essential database profiles that help others fight climate denial and delay.  Can you donate $10 or $20 right now to support more of this essential work? 

Credit:  Sabrina Bedford

Meet the Calgary Lawyer Pitching Alberta to the U.S. as the 51st State

— By Danielle Paradis (5 min. read) —

Jeffrey Rath recently went on Fox & Friends to discuss the oil-rich province “becoming a U.S. territory.”

REVEALED: Now There’s Proof That the Fossil Fuel Industry Uses Cultural Sponsorships to Block Climate Action

— By Rebecca John (15 min. read) —

BP, Chevron, Shell, and other oil majors back arts and community groups to protect their business models, subpoenaed documents show.

Engineer Explains Why Alberta’s Hydrogen Strategy Is Money-Losing Climate Failure

— By Mitch Anderson (4 min. read) —

Desperation, bad advice and lobbying likely underpinning the province’s plan to blend hydrogen with natural gas for home heating.

Trump’s UK Ambassador Has Investments in Industries Set to Benefit from Trade Deal

— By Sam Bright (6 min) —

Warren Stephens’ family firm has at least $250 million invested in the food and agriculture sector.

Tory Shadow Minister Launches Oil Consultant’s Anti-Net Zero Report

— By Adam Barnett  (4 min. read) —

Lord Offord presented a report by Kathryn Porter, which has been criticised for giving a “misleading picture” of clean energy costs.

From the Climate Disinformation Database: American Petroleum Institute

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the largest trade association for the oil and gas industry, representing over 600 corporate members. The API says its mission is to “influence public policy in support of a strong, viable U.S. oil and natural gas industry.” API has funded organizations that oppose regulations aimed at combating global warming including the Cato Institute and Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE). A 1998 Communications Plan suggests that API was actively working to promote “uncertainty” about climate change science and links to fossil fuels. According to the document, “victory will be achieved when […] Average citizens ‘understand’ (recognize) uncertainties in climate science; recognition of uncertainties becomes part of the ‘conventional wisdom’” API is also heavily involved in direct lobbying on behalf of the oil and gas industry, having spent over $127 million on lobbying activities since 1998.

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