"Fossil fuel big five 'spent €251m lobbying EU' since 2010", 24 October 2019

The five biggest oil and gas companies [BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Total], and their industry groups, have spent at least…€251m lobbying the [EU] over climate policies since 2010…the EU’s transparency register reveal[s]… [R]esearchers say…[this] represents the tip of the iceberg…

At the same time, the profits of the big five have continued to rise…The report says…oil and gas companies…had high spending in 2014 during discussions over the EU’s 2030 climate targets,…[weakening them]…NGOs…are demanding politics be freed from fossil fuel influence…calling for: an end to lobbying meetings...no revolving door between public office and the oil and gas industry…end of fossil fuel subsidies…no sponsorships…with industry representatives. 

 [This week]…the US Congress held a hearing…examining the…industry’s efforts to suppress the truth…[and in] New York, a supreme court trial…[is] examining allegations that ExxonnMobil misled…investors…In the UK, BP and Shell have faced…backlash…the Royal Shakespeare Company announc[ing] it was ending its sponsorship with BP…[and] the National Theatre [also saying] it would end its Shell sponsorship…

 …Chevron said: “We lobby ethically, constructively and in a nonpartisan manner”. Shell said: “We firmly reject the premise of this report…we are crystal clear about our support…to achieve climate neutrality…”. ExxonMobil said [it] “…engages with [EU] institutions. We have responsibility to…engage in public policy dialogue that impacts our business”…Total said national and international trade groups had an important role in discussions on how…[climate] goals could be met…BP did not respond…