Would you like to be on the F-list?
The F-list consists of fossil fuel companies that work hard very difficult to downplay their impact on the climate crisis. List F companies are not the only ones that are warming up, because relations with the press, advertising and other image management companies are subject to control by the US House of Representatives.
The problem is striking climatic misinformation.
Two House Democrats are scrutinizing creative agencies aimed at massaging the public environmental image of the role of the F-list.
Raúl Grijalva (AZ), Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Katie Porter (CA), Chair of the Subcommittee on Supervision and Investigation, sent letters to 5 companies. In letters that were shared exclusively with Climate Washington Post 202, lawmakers have requested all documents and communications regarding the content and remuneration of creative agencies for the F-list from January 2013 to the present.
“If we are to take meaningful action against climate change,” Grijalva outlined, “we must be armed with facts and science, not industrial propaganda. The American people deserve to know the truth, and we intend to do our job to find it.
After June 27, any company that does not provide the requested information may feel the power to summon Congress.
How do List F companies respond to allegations of climate misinformation?
The American Petroleum Institute (AFI) – one of the big hitlers on the F list – seems more interested in producing more oil than in reducing further environmental degradation. The AFI addresses the problem of “record inflation and rising energy costs” and says the US should look for solutions to “unlock more US energy to keep the lights on and meet demand while reducing emissions in the US.” Read: drilling, kid, drilling and harvesting profits.
The Truth Will Tell: F-List Doubletalk
Former ExxonMobil lobbyist and Chief Federal Officer Keith McCoy was caught last year when he accidentally told the truth about ExxonMobil’s deception to sabotage President Biden’s climate agenda.
The revelation appeared in a secretly recorded video in which McCoy revealed the dirty and filthy truth in what he considered an interview with a potential client.
McCoy has admitted that ExxonMobil is working behind the scenes to halt climate change, although it has publicly stated its support for the Paris Agreement and policies such as the carbon tax. Through entities such as shadow groups and centrist think-tanks, one of the most powerful companies on the F list is fighting Congress’ climate action. McCoy said the company supports a carbon tax, for example, because it believes it will never happen, but offers a good argument.
This single example is just a drop in the proverbial F-sheet of the disinformation bucket. A challenge for companies that continue to work for fossil fuel companies, Clean Creatives says collaboration between F-List and creative agencies is extensive but more stressful than ever before.
This is because capital has begun to flow into major climate solutions, which invites them to check the F-list and their creative teams. Regulators and governments are now trying to examine “the polluted relationship between fossil fuel companies and the agencies they hire to spin their dirty stories.”
How PR companies re-create the stories of their clients from list F
So how can creative agencies ensure that their clients look so good on the F-list? Let’s look at a few examples of how companies are massaging the message to meet the demands of investor relations, public education, problem analysis, regulatory challenges and environmental pressures.
Blue advertisement: Client = American Petroleum Institute
“The U.S. oil and gas industry, burdened by a challenging public environment, has hired Blue to create an educational campaign unparalleled in the industry’s history. The Telly, Communicator, SABER and MarCom awards campaign focused on showcasing the benefits that oil and gas bring to all aspects of American life, as well as the industry’s innovation and technological prowess. The American Petroleum Institute commissioned Blue to create a campaign to increase the visibility of key energy issues during the election period. Blue’s “Vote 4 Energy” multimedia campaign features real voters who formulate their real energy priorities and proudly refer to themselves as “energy voters.”
DDC Public Affairs: Client = DTE Energy
“DTE Energy wanted to strengthen its PAC’s reputation among elected officials and, in the process, better align PAC’s business objectives with those of DTE employees. The DTE turned to the DDC to help them build a stronger relationship between beneficiaries and the PAC and to better link the points between PAC participation and policy outcomes. The DDC focused on increasing engagement by opening up new communication lines and new channels for participation and making PAC messaging more straightforward and accessible. As part of these strategies, we introduced the new PAC Ambassador: Nora, an animated PAC lab based on the truly beloved service dog and mascot of the DTE office. Nora has enabled the PAC to deliver news and information in a fun and creative way and has extended the PAC’s appeal to a wider group of qualified staff, especially those who have limited understanding of the PAC. The DTE PAC has attracted new visibility and new entrants without having to ask hard, and has seen increased participation even during the peak of the pandemic and other challenging events of 2020.
FTI Consulting: Client = oil and gas industry
“Today, few global business sectors have more opportunities and challenges than the Energy, Energy and Products segment. Market participants are trying to meet the demand for clean technologies in Europe, satisfy the insatiable desire for coal in the Far East, or benefit from the shale oil and gas revolution in the United States, while addressing challenges such as growing government regulations and tighter environmental pressures. environment. FTI Consulting provides a wide range of consulting services that address the strategic, financial, reputational, regulatory and legal needs of energy and utilities clients involved in the production of oil, gas, refined products, chemicals, coal, electricity and new technologies. and renewable energies. In addition, we provide strategic communications services across all industries, from capital markets to investor relations. ”
Story partners: Client = Noble energy
“When the proposed election measure threatened Noble Energy’s oil and gas operations in northern Colorado, the company knew it had to act quickly to protect its largest assets on the mainland, not to mention the local economy and thousands of jobs.” Our basic research has shown higher-than-expected negatives based on emotions rather than facts, and a huge gap in public awareness of Noble Energy’s responsible environmental practices, commitment to local communities, and a contribution to Colorado’s economy. By framing the dispute from the struggle between industry, government and citizens to the opportunity to promote energy independence and innovation, we have successfully built public understanding and trust; held a harmful initiative out of the vote; and build an ongoing social networking presence to further strengthen Noble Energy’s reputation as a responsible corporate citizen among the public and other key stakeholders. “
Singer Associates: Client = Chevron
“Singer Associates has developed advertisements to show why Richmond Proud is a resident and has built support for a newer, safer and cleaner refinery. The commercials aired on television and sparked the pride of the community in Richmond, where Chevron operated the refinery for more than 100 years.
“Fossil fuel companies and associations have been involved in public relations campaigns for decades to downplay the threat of climate change and the central role that fossil fuels have played in causing it,” the lawmakers who sent the letters to list F admit. were designed to prevent the country from taking critical steps to address the climate crisis. “
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