This is how Big Oil is steering EU climate policy
14 October 2024
Big Oil's influence over EU climate policy surged massively during Ursula von der Leyen's last Commission term, with over 900 meetings between fossil fuel companies such as Shell and BP on one hand, and high-level EU officials on the other, since 2019. The consequences are evident: through intensive lobbying, Big Oil shifted the European Green Deal from its original decarbonisation focus, turning it into an industrial strategy that increasingly favours fossil fuel interests.
Technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen, heavily promoted by the fossil fuel industry, are now central to the EU's energy transition narrative. And though they're marketed as climate solutions, they still enable continued reliance on fossil fuels, delaying the complete phase-out that scientists deem critical for meeting the EU's climate goals.
Amongst the directives impacted by Big Oil are the reforms to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), where lobbying efforts delayed and diluted measures to tighten emissions caps and reduce allowances for polluters. Another example is the weakening of methane emission regulations; the industry lobbied against stringent rules on methane leaks and flaring, resulting in less ambitious policies. Additionally, stricter vehicle emission standards were postponed as fossil fuel companies influenced the timeline for implementing tighter CO2 limits for cars, slowing progress in reducing transportation emissions.
The key concern? It's politicians, including Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, who have been particularly receptive — holding frequent meetings with industry leaders. This openness has resulted in billions in public funding being channelled into projects that support fossil fuel priorities rather than accelerating the shift to renewable energy. And the revolving door between EU institutions and the fossil fuel industry further deepens this influence, with former officials bringing insider knowledge into lobbying roles. This level of corporate influence threatens Europe's climate ambitions: it undermines efforts to reduce emissions and raises key concerns about the long-term impact on European citizens and the environment.
 | Leticia Batista Cabanas Big Oil's reach goes well beyond those 900 meetings: these companies are also involved in broader industry networks like BusinessEurope and the European Chemical Industry Council, which collectively lobby for policies favouring fossil fuel investments and consistently push for regulatory frameworks that support carbon-intensive industries. Fossil fuel companies are also key players in public-private partnerships like the Clean Hydrogen Alliance, which enables them to secure both influence and significant public funding for technologies like blue hydrogen, a fossil-based solution. And the sector has also capitalised on the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, using it to push for more gas infrastructure under the guise of energy security, which further delays decarbonisation. |
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