Large oil and gas companies produce very little renewable energy, says Greenpeace

Analysis of the Report :

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The study, dubbed "The Dirty Dozen" by Greenpeace, scrutinises the 2022 annual reports of twelve European oil and gas companies, six of which are among the world leaders. Although most of them have made promises to be carbon neutral by 2050, they have not yet put in place a concrete strategy to achieve this. The report reveals that the majority of these companies are even planning to increase their hydrocarbon production until at least 2030.

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Impacts on the climate and future generations :

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Hélène Bourges, head of the Fossil Energy campaign at Greenpeace France, describes this inaction by the oil giants as "a crime against the climate and future generations". The report also points the finger at the greenwashing tactics widely employed by these companies to give the impression of an ecological transition while minimising the harmful effects of their actual activities.

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Challenges and weaknesses of climate commitments:

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The study highlights the weaknesses of companies' climate targets, which are often limited to emissions linked to production processes, ignoring emissions resulting from the sale of oil and gas. These companies often plan to offset their emissions with controversial solutions such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).

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Example: TotalEnergies under fire:

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TotalEnergies, despite its declarations in favour of the energy transition, has some worrying figures: in 2022, less than 1% of its energy production will come from renewable sources, while 88% of its investments will be in fossil fuels. The company even plans to increase its hydrocarbon production in the coming years.

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Call for Action and Regulation:

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Greenpeace calls on European governments to strictly regulate the fossil fuel industry by stopping all new oil and gas exploration projects, reducing fossil fuel production in line with the Paris Agreement, investing in green infrastructure and increasing the production of renewable energies.

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Taxation of Fossil Companies:

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To finance the energy transition and show solidarity with countries affected by climate change, Greenpeace proposes to heavily tax fossil fuel companies. In addition, the association advocates for the gradual elimination of all subsidies granted to the extraction, production, refining and transport of fossil fuels in Europe.

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Current case:
Note that TotalEnergies' greenwashing practices are currently the subject of legal action initiated by the associations Greenpeace France, Friends of the Earth France and Notre Affaire à Tous. This appeal is currently being investigated by the Paris Judicial Court, with a hearing scheduled for September 12. Stay informed of developments in this matter.

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