How Fossil Fuel Giants Spend Billions on Sportswashing to Distract from Climate Impact

Fossil Fuel Giants Pour Billions into Sports Sponsorship to Divert Attention from Environmental Damage
Fossil fuel companies are pouring billions into sports sponsorships, a move critics argue is a strategic attempt to divert attention from their significant role in fueling the global climate crisis. According to a comprehensive report by the New Weather Institute (NWI), more than £4 billion has been spent by these companies to secure lucrative partnerships across a range of popular sports, including football, motorsports, rugby, and golf.

NWI’s report, titled “Dirty Money – How Fossil Fuel Sponsors are Polluting Sport,” highlights how these deals are part of a broader strategy known as “sportswashing” – using the power of sports to clean up the public image of industries widely criticized for their environmental impact. By associating themselves with beloved sports, these companies hope to mask their role in exacerbating climate change and human health issues.

Sports Sponsorship: A Strategic Image Makeover for Fossil Fuel Companies

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the environmental dangers posed by fossil fuels, energy companies are scrambling to improve their public image. Sponsoring popular sporting events and teams offers a unique opportunity for these companies to reach millions of fans worldwide, associating their names with healthy, inspiring, and often eco-friendly activities.

The NWI’s analysis revealed that sports is now one of the top areas where oil and gas companies invest to greenwash their reputations. This trend is growing, with more than 200 active sponsorship deals linked to the fossil fuel industry. Football, the world’s most popular sport, holds the lion’s share of these partnerships, with 58 active deals. Close behind are motorsports (39 partnerships), rugby union (17), and golf (15).

The strategy is simple but effective: by sponsoring high-visibility sports, fossil fuel companies position themselves as benefactors of the communities these sports serve. In reality, however, these sponsorships are seen by critics as a smokescreen for the environmental destruction that these industries continue to perpetuate.

The Biggest Players in Sportswashing

Among the top sponsors in the fossil fuel industry is Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, Aramco. With nearly £1 billion invested across ten active sponsorship deals, Aramco stands as the biggest player in this controversial game. The company has formed high-profile partnerships with world-renowned organizations, including FIFA (football’s global governing body) and Formula 1. Aramco is also heavily involved in international cricket, another sport with a massive global following.

Other major companies involved in sportswashing include petrochemical giant Ineos, which has invested £588 million into a variety of sports teams, and Shell, which has spent £355 million. TotalEnergies, another big player, has invested £257 million and recently sponsored the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Each of these companies has been heavily criticized for using sports sponsorship to shift public perception away from their contribution to climate change.

While some of these companies have remained silent in the face of accusations, others have offered their own defense. Ineos, for example, has denied that its investments in sports represent any form of ‘sportswashing,’ while Shell has pointed to its significant investment in low-carbon energy solutions. According to Shell, 23% of its capital spending in 2022, amounting to £4.2 billion, went toward e-mobility, low-carbon fuels, and other sustainable technologies. Yet, many critics argue that these investments are a mere fraction of what is needed to counteract the damage these companies continue to do by extracting and burning fossil fuels.

Athletes and Campaigners Speak Out

Many athletes and environmental campaigners are now speaking out against the practice of sportswashing. One prominent voice is Imogen Grant, a gold-medal-winning rower from Team GB. Grant believes that fossil fuel companies are using sport to enhance their public image while continuing to harm the environment – a direct threat to the sports they sponsor.

“A lot of these partnerships come from massive state-owned fossil fuel sponsors, but it’s not a deal sport can accept for much longer,” Grant said during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Her words reflect a growing concern within the sporting world that by accepting money from industries responsible for climate change, sports organizations are undermining their own long-term sustainability.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace have also voiced strong objections to these partnerships. Greenpeace particularly criticized TotalEnergies for its sponsorship of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, arguing that such relationships send the wrong message to fans and future athletes.

A Call for Change: Banning Fossil Fuel Sponsorships

In response to the report, NWI is calling for urgent action to address the influence of fossil fuel money in sports. Specifically, they are advocating for a ban on fossil fuel sponsorships, similar to the ban placed on tobacco advertising in sports in many parts of the world.

Andrew Simms, co-director of NWI, believes that fossil fuel companies are following in the footsteps of the tobacco industry by attempting to buy their way into the good graces of the public through sports sponsorship. “Oil companies who are delaying climate action and pouring more fuel on the fire of global heating are using big tobacco’s old playbook and trying to pass themselves off as patrons of sport,” Simms said.

He went on to emphasize that the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather and air pollution, threaten the future of both athletes and the sports they love. From the Winter Olympics to the FIFA World Cup, the very events that fossil fuel companies sponsor are at risk of being disrupted or even canceled due to the environmental damage caused by these companies’ activities.

The Future of Sports: Embracing Sustainability

For sports to have a viable future, many believe it must disentangle itself from the fossil fuel industry. NWI and other environmental groups argue that sports organizations should seek more sustainable sources of funding, such as renewable energy companies, ethical businesses, or even public crowdfunding.

Some sports have already begun this transition. Formula E, the electric counterpart to Formula 1, has positioned itself as a more environmentally friendly alternative, highlighting the potential for sports to move away from fossil fuel sponsorship. Other initiatives, such as the use of solar-powered stadiums and low-carbon transport solutions for fans, show that there is a growing interest in making sports greener.

However, these efforts must be accelerated if the world is to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and prevent the worst impacts of climate change. For many, this means cutting ties with the fossil fuel industry entirely.

Conclusion: A Sporting Chance for Change

The debate over fossil fuel sponsorship in sports is not just about money; it’s about values. As climate change increasingly affects the natural world, the sports we love, and the athletes who compete, the need for a cleaner, more sustainable approach to funding is clearer than ever.

With more athletes, fans, and environmental groups joining the call for change, sports organizations have a unique opportunity to lead the way in promoting sustainability and protecting the future of both the planet and the games that unite us. Ending reliance on fossil fuel sponsorship could be a powerful first step in this journey toward a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable future for sport.