19/05/2004

PRESS RELEASE

Esso: still creating the world's toughest energy challenge: climate change

London-18 May 2004 -- The Stop Esso campaign today responded to Esso's global television and print advertising campaign, saying that Esso was "creating", not "taking on" the world's toughest energy challenge: climate change.

StopEsso coalition coordinator Cindy Baxter says that the company's ad campaign shows how well the StopEsso campaign is working. "Our campaign is clearly having an effect. But for Esso to launch such blatant greenwash with no change to its actions is what we've come to expect. Esso is still creating the world's toughest energy challenges by blocking international action on climate change."

A close examination of Esso's PR and documents reveals:

* the company still questions the scientific concensus that it is largely the C02 emissions from burning oil, coal and gas which is the major driver of climate change.

* Its research programme focuses on ways to keep on burning fossil fuels. Despite all the rhetoric, a core component of Exxon's "energy outlook" is its blanket refusal to accept that renewable energy will play any significant role. Moreover, Esso's predictions of future energy use would take us well over any "safe" threshold for a stabilisation of atmospheric greenhouse gases, and into a future of dangerous climate change.

Not only that, but Esso has increased its funding of organisations in the US who spend their time challenging the very science of climate change. It employs arch climate sceptics to lobby on its behalf in Washington, then has the audacity to claim that it "takes the issue of climate change seriously" - a comment which is also the mantra of the Bush Administration which has rejected the Kyoto Protocol.

The Bush Administration's climate change programme follows that of Esso very closely. It has received widespread criticism for taking on a programme of research rather than solid action. Indeed, climate scientists in the USA have spoken out against Bush's misuse of science - he listens not to his climate scientists but to the sceptics pushed by the Esso-funded front groups.

"At next week's AGM, Esso will face another shareholder resolution challenging the company's stance on climate change. In recent years, such resolutions have received a massive 22 per cent of support. This ad campaign is designed to pull the wool over shareholders' eyes, but they're not stupid," said Baxter.

Energy Efficiency?
The ad campaign is designed to convince the customer that Esso is making great strides in energy efficiency. However, comparison with other companies in their sector reveals Esso's performance is nothing more than average.

According to ENDS magazine, Esso has stated it has achieved a 37% improvement in energy intensity over 25 years. But the UK chemical industry recorded a 61% improvement in energy intensity in the 18 years to 1998, while the energy intensity of UK industry as a whole improved by 62% from 1970 to 1998.

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