Message From the Editor

Stella Levantesi brought us the third installment of Gaslit, her column exploring society’s dysfunctional relationship with fossil fuel disinformation. This week, she took a deep dive into the language climate deniers use to delay and obstruct climate action. “If we take a step back and ask ourselves, why has meaningful action to avert the climate crisis proven to be so difficult? It is at least in part because of communications and because of the language coming from the fossil fuel industry,” said one expert she spoke with. Read on.

Does engaging with oil and gas giants by remaining invested in them — keeping a “seat at the table” — help in the fight against climate change? A new report suggests not very much — at least judging by the record of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). The report highlights the public pension fund’s history of pushing “the importance of corporate engagement on climate change” in public statements, while simultaneously voting against climate measures in shareholder meetings. Sharon Kelly reports.

And Nick Cunningham detailed a different attempt to block climate action. In recent months, Canadian police and security forces have intensified their surveillance and harassment of Indigenous people who are protesting the construction of two long-distance oil and gas pipelines in British Columbia. This has prompted The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to reproach the Canadian federal and provincial governments — for the third time. Dive in.

Have a story tip or feedback? Get in touch: editor@desmog.com.
Thanks,
Brendan DeMelle

Executive Director

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Climate Deniers and the Language of Climate Obstruction​​​​​​​

— By Stella Levantesi (9 min. read) —

On a recent episode of the Fox Business show “Mornings with Maria,” American Petroleum Institute CEO and President, Mike Sommers, said that “the most important environmental movement in the world is the American oil and gas industry.”

“A super absurd example of oil and gas companies appropriating and weaponizing the language of climate advocates for their own greenwashing,” commented author and climate activist Genevieve Guenther on Twitter.

Canada Steps Up Surveillance of Indigenous Peoples To Push Fossil Fuel Pipelines Forward​​​​​​​

— By Nick Cunningham (9 min. read)—

Canadian police and security forces have intensified their surveillance and harassment of Indigenous people in recent months in an effort to clear the way for the construction of two long-distance oil and gas pipelines in British Columbia, earning the condemnation of international human rights observers.

“The Governments of Canada and of the Province of British Columbia have escalated their use of force, surveillance, and criminalization of land defenders and peaceful protesters to intimidate, remove and forcibly evict Secwepemc and Wet’suwet’en Nations from their traditional lands,” the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) wrote in an April 29 letter.

America’s Biggest Public Pension Fund Is Slow-Walking Corporate Climate Action, Report Charges​​​​​​​

— By Sharon Kelly (6 min. read)—

Does engaging with oil and gas giants by remaining invested in them – keeping a “seat at the table” – help in the fight against climate change?

A new report suggests not very much – at least judging by the record of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS).

The report by environmental group Fossil Free California takes the public pension fund to task for its results to date, highlighting its history of pushing “the importance of corporate engagement on climate change” in public statements, while simultaneously voting against climate measures in shareholder meetings.

Supermarkets Urged to End Russian Diesel Sales and Stop ‘Pumping for Putin’​​​​​​​

— By Adam Barnett (3 min. read)—

British supermarkets are facing criticism for continuing to sell Russian diesel at their petrol stations almost four months after the invasion of Ukraine began.

Campaigners have plastered at least 4,000 “Pumping for Putin” stickers on petrol pumps to raise awareness and urge the retailers to end their trade in Russian oil, according to organisers.

Business Secretary Rejects Climate Denier’s Bid to Revive Fracking

— By Adam Barnett (2 min. read) —

The UK government has rejected a petition by a climate science denier to overturn the country’s ban on fracking.

The news will come as a set-back to the campaign being waged by politicians, commentators and pressure groups to restart the controversial technology.

The petition was started by Lois Perry, director of the climate science denial group CAR26 and a regular guest on GB News and talkRADIO, who has claimed that the “climate emergency” is a “scam”.

From the Climate Disinformation Database: Naomi Seibt

Naomi Seibt is a German YouTube “influencer” who has been described in the media as the “anti-Greta,” in reference to Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Thunberg was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year and has become the face for youth climate action. Naomi Seibt joined the Heartland Institute‘s Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy in February 2020 in order to spread her message. She reportedly chose not to renew her contract with Heartland in April 2020 after facing potential fines from a regional broadcasting authority.

Read her full profile and browse other individuals and organizations in our Climate Disinformation Database and Koch Network Database.