More than 90 Australian agencies are believed to currently have fossil fuel clients, almost double the 54 agencies in 2022, according to Comms Declare's 2023 F-list research.
The research has found a global boom in lobbyists working for fossil fuel companies racking in record profits on the back of the war in Ukraine.
In Australia, four agencies were removed from the 2022 list but 25 of the 32 new entries are lobbyists working for oil and gas companies.
Key findings from the Australian report include the most polluting agencies being JSW Research and SEC Newgate (seven fossil fuel clients), with the most self-promoting clients being Santos and Ampol (nine agencies).
For the first time, a government has been included, following revelations that the Northern Territory has been lobbying for gas expansion.
A new inclusion is outdoor media companies, Torch Media, JCDecaux and oOH! Media, for running big brand campaigns for the likes of Ampol, Glencore, Santos and APPEA.
A bright spot in the past year was Cummins&Partners breaking ties with Energy Australia. Deloitte picked up the work despite claiming to be a “leading voice on climate, sustainability and energy issues”.
In WA, Labor-linked lobbyist CGM recast itself as ESG and sustainability advisor, ReGen Strategic, while its client, Strike Energy, was fast-tracked for four new gas projects in 18 months.
A notable absentee from the list of clients is Woodside. Its in-house team is lobbying including on behalf of partners, PetroChina International Investment, the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation, the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company and more.
Belinda Noble, founder at Comms Declare, said cashed up fossil fuel companies want to expand production and muscle out renewables, and a flock of lobbyists are helping them influence the government and greenwash their projects.
“Agency influence can be seen in the boom in greenwashing, such as the Northern Territory’s Middle Arm gas and petrochemical hub being shamelessly rebadged as a 'Sustainable Development Precinct', and hydrogen made with coal or gas being described as ‘clean’ or ‘renewable’," Noble said.
Tim Buckley, director at Climate Energy Finance, says Australia exported $240B worth of fossil fuels last year, with a 70% profit margin - creating $150B in gross profits.
“The unprecedented war profiteering of fossil fuel companies is the reason why we have a cost of living crisis and an energy crisis. They’ve never had more money to fund their lobbying efforts to delay climate action and protect their profits," Buckley said.
Globally, research by U.S-based Clean Creatives reveals a record 500 fossil fuel contracts at 294 agencies. These agencies – including WPP, Omnicom, Interpublic Group, Publicis, Dentsu, Havas, Edelman and others – knowingly work against scientific consensus.
Duncan Meisel, executive director at Clean Creatives, said the agencies named in the F-List know that their work for polluters is doing real damage to the planet.
"It’s time for them to listen to the scientific community calling for an end to their misleading work," Meisel said.
“Thanks to a growing grassroots movement, more and more governments are banning advertisements from polluters. This kind of advertising will come to an end.
"The question for the ad industry now is whether they will help lead that transition, or be swept away by it.”
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