montreal – Oil and gas companies are pouring millions of dollars into academic research, influencing the priorities and scope of key research areas, according to a new Greenpeace Canada report, “Bad Cheques.” Over the past decade, oil and gas companies have matched or exceeded $31 million in federal funding for university industrial research chairs working on fossil fuel projects, plus other research funding. Grants and donations have also exceeded millions of dollars. Compare this to an industrial research chair in alternative energy projects for which he has received only $100,000 over the past decade.
“It is a frightening realization that fossil fuel companies are not only influencing academic research on energy efficiency and climate change mitigation, but also diverting top leadership attention from research on energy efficiency and climate change mitigation. increase Oil and gas extraction in an era of scientific advancement tell us We need to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels. ” Nora Poirier, senior researcher and writer at Greenpeace Canada.
The report delves into the fossil fuel industry's extensive investments in Canadian universities, particularly in the areas of oil and gas extraction and emissions, and the historical precedent of tobacco companies funding medical research. drawing worrying similarities. Even more worrying is that the access of fossil fuel money will undermine important climate and energy research by these departments and institutions. Fossil fuel funding influences research topics that align with industry, such as research focusing on dubious industry-backed carbon capture and storage to combat climate change, rather than more promising renewable energy technologies. There is a possibility that research topics will be focused on profit.
“Academic research needs to be independent and evidence-based. But oil and gas companies are not neutral. They have a vested economic interest in fossil energy to maintain the status quo. , has been shown to be deliberately delaying and minimizing climate action. Poirier said. “If the fossil fuel industry were able to fund academic research and allocate donations to specific projects it supports, it would compete with critical research to accelerate the energy transition and stop the worst effects of climate change. It will be.”
This problem is not unique to Canada. In 2022, academics, scientists, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) researchers, and many others signed the agreement. open letter It calls on universities in the US and UK to ban fossil fuel funding for climate change, environment and energy policy research. „We believe that this funding is inherently a conflict of interest, contradicts the university's core academic and social values, and supports industry greenwashing,“ the letter said. It has been stated.
Oil and gas companies are profiting huge profit Their deep pockets mean they have the money to invest in academic research and make an impact. “In addition to the negative impact on important climate and energy research, these large investments in fossil fuels in academic research legitimize so-called climate “solutions” supported by oil and gas companies, fossil fuels in general, and industry. It works as a way to ” Poirier said. “By not only allowing these companies to invest in energy and climate change policy research, but often matching funding, governments are subsidizing industry to help mitigate climate change. It is obstructing the government's own efforts to do so.“
In response to these alarming findings, Greenpeace Canada is advocating for the end of fossil fuel money in energy policy and climate-related research, and for alignment with global environmental goals and the Government of Canada's commitment to a healthy climate. It emphasizes the need to protect the integrity of research. institution.
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Notes to media
(1) English report available here.
For more information, please contact us below.
Philippa Duchastel de MontrougeGreenpeace Canada, Communications Officer, (email protected); + 514 929 8227