𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 & 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

For over 60 years, fossil fuel companies have shaped public perceptions—delaying action even as their own research confirmed climate risks. In the 1980s, Shell and Exxon privately warned of global warming, while publicly casting doubt and lobbying against regulation. These strategies continue today through greenwashing, lobbying and targeted media.

𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘥 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺?!

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀:

• Misleading advertising: Promoting fossil fuels as “clean” whilst continuing to lobby for gas or oppose stricter regulation.

• Lobbying & funding: Over $1 billion has been spent since the Paris Agreement to weaken climate policy.

• Shaping narratives: Partnerships with media and influencers promote misinformation and political discourse, echoing tactics used by the tobacco industry.

• Delay through distraction: Focus on small doubts or trade-offs to stall progress.

These tactics have made phrases like “green growth” politically charged, even when the work delivers clear local benefits.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱

• Don't argue with facts - they have confirmation bias and will only listen to evidence of their current beliefs.

• Focus on practical outcomes they care about and evidence they will trust

• Use neutral, practical language: e.g. “protecting services (eg health)”, "safeguarding jobs", "clean air and water" ...

• If challenged, acknowledge complexity and return to what matters to them.

Sources and more information here.