Statement of Resource Person, Dylan Tanner
6 November 2018
1. A frequent conclusion of InfluenceMap’s analysis is that large corporations
are increasingly messaging positive support for climate policy for example
by stating support for the Paris Agreement or a “price on carbon” while
undermining the detailed regulatory implementation processes which would
make such top line aspirations successful. The report Big Oil and the
obstruction of climate regulations (InfluenceMap, October 2015)
documented this trend in detail following significant public relations activity
by the European oil/gas majors over support for a price on carbon.55 The
report noted then that “Shell is on the on the board of CEFIC (the powerful
European chemicals trade body) that recently lobbied aggressively against
much needed reform of the European Emissions Trading Scheme, critical for
an effective price on carbon. Shell has also been lobbying against European
Commission energy efficiency and renewable energy targets and regulation,
which raises questions about the consistency of its own messaging.”
2. InfluenceMap’s research has isolated similar inconsistencies between the top
line statements on climate change policy by ExxonMobil, BP, Total,
Chevron and their direct or indirect lobbying activities. A shareholder
resolution presented to Rio Tinto in 2018, regarding the misalignment of its
climate policy positioning compared to that of the Minerals Council of
Australia and other trade groups, relied on InfluenceMap analysis to inform
its argument.56
3. This inconsistent and deceptive messaging on climate policy by many of the
Carbon Majors continues unabated and represents a key part of their current
influencing strategy. Large corporations and trade associations possess
significant financial and staffing resources, enabling them to create a
narrative of apparent support for climate policy to the media and investors
while they continue to undermine the critical detailed and technical
processes needed for policy progress on climate change. In total, an
InfluenceMap report from 2016 estimates that the global oil and gas industry
may be spending up to $500 million per year on obstructing climate policy
globally.57
10) Conclusions
1. InfluenceMap’s thorough analysis shows the Carbon Majors, operating both
individually and through global networks of lobby groups, continue to
systematically oppose ambitious and urgently needed climate policy as
recommended by the IPCC and proposed by bodies mandated to tackle
climate change. This statement notes two key and landmark strands of
climate policy which have been diluted or stopped since 2010 - the US Clean
Power Plan and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. These are by no means
isolated examples with InfluenceMap’s analysis of the lobbying practices of
55
Oil and gas majors call for carbon pricing, Shell Oil Website, Press Release dated June 2015
56
Australian Center for Corporate Responsibility website, Rio, 2018
57
An investor enquiry: how much big oil spends on climate lobbying, InfluenceMap, April 2016
14