The future according to Shell | Corporate Europe Observatory

By contrast, the future is a clean slate, free of reminders of the company's unethical record. Shell increasingly talks of low-carbon scenarios, ... Skiptomaincontent Searchthissite Mainnavigation Top Searchthissite Facebook Twitter Mail Print ThefutureaccordingtoShell Climaterhetoricandfossilfuelexpansion 15.05.2020 Gaslobby AlittleoveradecadehaspassedsinceShellplasteredthelandmarkUNClimateChangeConferenceinCopenhagenwithvisionsofits“newenergyfuture”,sponsoringanyclimate-themedmagazinesupplementthatwaswillingtotakeitsmoney.“We’llneedtothinktheimpossibleispossible”wasShell’smessagebackthen,evenasstudiesshowedthatthecompanyhadtheworstenvironmentalrecordofanyofthelargeoilmultinationals. On19thMay2020ShellwillhostitsAnnualGeneralMeeting(AGM)atitsheadquartersinTheHague.TheAGMwillnotbethemostglamorousofitshistory,restrictedtoabarelegalminimumoftwoshareholdersphysicallyattending.Also,forthefirsttimesincetheSecondWorldWar,Shellhascutitsdividends(bytwo-thirds),asthepandemichassentoilcompaniesintocrisismode,withplummetingdemand,unprecedentedpricecrashesandagloomyuncertaintyovertheirfuture.ThiscomesinadditiontothegrowingtarnishingofShell’ssociallicensetooperate,asmountingpressureonthestreetsdemandsstrongactionontheclimateemergency,andseveralcourtcaseschallengethecompany’strackrecord. Shellisthusonceagainsellingitssupposedvisionofasustainablefuture,hopingtodistractfromtherealitythatthecompanybearsasignificantshareoftheresponsibilityforclimatechangeandhasatroubledhumanrightsrecord. Asfarbackas1984,Shell’sownresearchshowedthatitwasresponsiblefor4percentoftheworld’scarbondioxideemissions,andthatitkneweventhenthatthesewerecausingclimatechange.Yetthecompanydoubleddownonoilandgasinvestment,andjoinedotheroilcompaniesintheGlobalClimateCoalitionandAmericanPetroleumInstitute,twopowerfullobbygroupsthatspentmillionspromotingclimatedenialism.DutchinvestigativejournalistsunveiledearlierthisyearthatShellhadevenpaidaDutchclimatedeniertomountacampaignagainstclimatescience.Thecompany’slongrecordofhumanrightsabusesandenvironmentaldestruction–especiallyintheNigerDelta–isalsowelldocumented. Bycontrast,thefutureisacleanslate,freeofremindersofthecompany’sunethicalrecord.Shellincreasinglytalksoflow-carbonscenarios,andlastmonthitpromisedtobecomeanet-zeroemissionscompanyby2050.Itsponsorsan“eco-marathon”competitiontodeveloptheworld’smostefficientcar.Itmakesvideosfulloftrees,electricvehiclechargingpoints,andevenglamouroussocialmediainfluencers(#makethefuture).Itpromisessupportfor“nature-basedsolutions”,andevensays,loudlyandrepeatedly,thatit“welcomesandsupportstheParisAgreementandtheambitiontolimittheglobalriseintemperaturestowellbelowtwodegreesCelsius.” Shellhasextremelydeeppocketstobringthatmessagenotonlytothepublic,butalsotopolicy-makers.Itspentover€4.5millionin2019aloneonEUlobbying.And,alongwiththeotherlobbygroupsitisamemberof,ithasspentover€215million SidenoteSeemethodologyboxsince2010onbuyinginfluenceattheheartoftheEU. Thisisatextbookcaseofhypocrisy:Shellplans(oratleastitdidbeforebeinghitbythecoronaviruscrisis)todevelopmorethan35newoilandgasprojectsby2025,eventhoughthereisnoplausiblescenarioforaddressingclimatechangethatallowsforfossilfuelexpansiononthisscale. Butthatisnotit.WhenShelltalksaboutan“energytransition”andpromisestobea“net-zero”company,thisreflectsnotjustgreenwashing,butalsothecompany’sattemptstomouldthefutureinitsownimage.Shell’senvisionedfutureisoneinwhichgasplaysasignificant,long-termrole,andthelifespanofoilwellsisextendedthroughunfeasibleandeye-wateringlyexpensive“carboncaptureandstorage”technology.Publicpolicyshouldavoidregulationbeyondsettingapriceoncarbon,whileinternationalnegotiationsshouldensurethatremaininggreenhousegasemissionsdisappearthrough“netzero”accounting.Makingtheimpossiblepossible,indeed. Shell’sclimatepriorities:gas,carboncaptureandcarbonmarkets Shelldoesnothidethefactthatits“climate-related”prioritiesincludeburninggasfordecadestocome,backedupbyamassiveroll-outofcostlyandunproven“carboncapture”technology,andasystemofcarbonpricingthatshiftstheburdenofreducinggreenhousegasemissionsawayfromcompanieslikeitself.Thesethreeelements,backedupbythepromiseof“nature-basedsolutions”,formthevisionoftherose-tintedfuturethatShellclaimstodreamof. Glossary Carboncaptureandstorage(CCS):WithCCS,fossilfuelsarestillused,butinsteadofthecarbondioxidebeingreleasedintotheatmosphere,itiscapturedandstoredundergroundorunderwater.TherearenumerouspracticalproblemsassociatedwithCCS,however,thebiggestbeingthatitismassivelyexpensive–andwouldcostfarmoretoimplementthanswitchingtorenewableenergy.Thereisthuslittleincentiveformostinvestorstoinvestinlong-termstorage(existingCCSplantsreceivegenerousstatesubsidies).ButthereareconsiderableincentivesforcompaniestousethecapturedCO2for“fundamentallycounterproductivepurposes.”ThisCarbonCaptureandUtilization(CCU)approachalsofacilitatesEnhancedOilRecovery,wherecarbondioxideispumpedintodepletedwellsinordertoextractmoreoil. CarbonpricingApriceisputoncarbonbyeithertaxingitsuseorcreatinganemissionstradingsystem.Suchpoliciesaimtoencouragecompaniestoinvestincleanerproductionandtomakecarbonpollutionmoreexpensive,thusreducingdemand.Carbontaxesontheirownarehighlyregressive,hittingthepoorestpeoplehardest.Carbontradingsetsupasystemof“permitstopollute”,whichallowsbigpolluters(suchasShell)tofollowbusiness-as-usualwhilebuyingpollutionpermitsgeneratedelsewhere.Thesepermitsareoftenbasedonindustrialefficiencysavingsthatwouldhavehappenedanyway,or“avoideddeforestation”schemesthatarenotequivalenttocutsinfossilfuelcarbon.Carbontradingisalsolinkedto“offset”schemesthatshifttheburdenofpollutionreductionontopoorerpeople.Carbonpricinghasnotachieveditsgoalofencouragingcleanerinvestment,butithasbeenusedtoputabrakeonregulationsthatwouldactuallydrivechangestowardsacleanereconomy. Nature-basedsolutions “Nature-basedsolutions”involvetherestoration(orprotectionfromdestruction)offorests,mangroveswampsandother“carbon-storing”ecosystems.Thisisanewnamefortheoldideaofpromotingforestryandconservationprojectsasan“offset”forcontinuedfossilfueluse.Whileburningfossilfuelsispermanent,thereisnocertaintyaboutthecountingofcarbonstoredinforests,andconsiderabledoubtsaboutwhetherthese“sinks”arepermanent.Restrictingclimatechangeto1.5degreeswillrequireforestrestorationandpreservation,aswellasrapidlyphasingoutfossilfuels,ratherthanusingonetocancelouttheother.Thatiswithoutmentioningthethreatssuchsolutionspose,asthesearchfor“available”landtoberestoredwillexpandthealreadyongoinglandgrabfromtheforeststoamuchwiderareaoflandunderpeasantcultivation. Gas,gasandmoregas Aboveall,Shell’s“climate”visionisoneinwhichgascontinuestoplayacentralroleintheenergysystem.Itpromotesgasasa“bridge”fuelthatcanhelptoreducerelianceoncoalandachieveimmediatecutstogreenhousegasemissions. ShellhasalsoencouragedtheEUtoseegasasthebridgeawayfromcoalandtowardsa“lowcarbon”energysystem,ratherthanrenewables:asthecompanywrotetoformerCommissionPresidentBarrosoin2014:“GasisgoodforEurope,andEuropeisgoodatgas”.SincethenShellhasredoubleditslobbyingeffortstoputgasattheheartofEUenergypolicy,andpromotesitscontinueduseinthemanyimportantpoliciescurrentlybeingdrafted,includingtheEuropeanGreenDeal,theupcominggasmarketregulationandtheTransEuropeanNetworksforEnergy(TEN-E). Butburningmoregaswouldtaketheworldfarbeyondsafeclimatelimits,andlockinarelianceonexpensivefossilfuelinfrastructurefordecadestocome.   CarbonCaptureandStorage/Utilization Inreality,Shell’splansareasfancifulastheyaredangerous.Itsglobalvisionisoutlinedintheethereallynamed“Sky”scenario.“In2070,Skyachievesnet-zeroemissionsintheenergysystem,buttheuseoffossilfuelsisfarfromover”,explainsShell’sChiefClimateChangeAdvisorDavidHone.Thecircleinthisvisionismagicallysquaredbyassumingthat10,000CCSfacilitieswillbeinoperationby2070.ShellhasalreadyusedthisscenariotolobbytheEuropeanCommissiontopromotethe“largescaledeploymentofCCSprojects”,asameanstoreach“NetZeroEmissions”. Atpresent,despiteconsiderablehypeandgovernmentsubsidies,therearejust51CCSplantsglobally,manyofwhicharesmall-scale.ThebiggestimpedimenttoCCSisthatitis“wildlyexpensive”while,atthesametime,renewableenergyisrapidlyfallingincost.Asaresult,CCSeitherreliesonstatesubsidies,oroncompaniesfindingenvironmentallyharmfulwaysto“utilize”theCO2. Shell’sowninvestmentsinCCSfollowthispattern,asthecompanyunwittinglyadmits.TheQuestprojectinAlberta,Canada,isthecompany’sflagshipCCSproject,butit“hasbenefitedfromsignificantgovernmentfunding”,notesShellCanadaPresidentMichaelCrothers.Hefurtherstatesthatindustryislookingtoa“self-funded”futureinwhichitcangeneraterevenuesfromCO2. Carboncaptureisalsoabywordforpostponingemissionsreductions,aswasseenwiththeGorgongasprojectinAustralia-aChevronCCSprojectinwhichShellholdsa25percentstake.Thestate-fundedprojectwassubjecttolongdelays,withlocalgroupsclaimingitwas“deliberatelymismanaged”tohelpthecompaniestoavoidmeetingenvironmentalregulations.Gorgonplanstocapturejust40percentoftheemissionsfromthemassiveWesternAustraliagasplant,whichonlyoriginallywonapprovalonthegroundsthatitwould“sequester”emissions.   CarbonMarkets Shellhasconsistentlysupportedcarbonemissionstradingand,incertainjurisdictions,carbontaxes(see“glossary”).Althoughthecompanytrumpetsthissupportasevidenceofitscommitmenttoclimateaction,themainreasonforthisenthusiasmisthatcarbonpricingbenefitsthecompany’scoregasbusiness.Firstlybyhelpinggastoout-competecoal(intheelectricitygenerationsector),andsecondlybyunderminingthecaseforotherregulations,targetsorrenewableenergysubsidies. Shell’ssupportforcarbonpricingshouldnotbeconfusedwithclimateambition.EvenincaseswhereitarguedforahigherpriceintheEUEmissionsTradingSystem(EUETS),itsgoalwasforgastoout-competecoal,andtoavoidrenewableenergybecomingthenorm.Indeed,whentheEUthreatenedtomakeShellpayforpollutionpermitsin2008,thecompanythreatenedtoquitEuropealtogether.ShellwasalsooneoftheleadactorswhichsuccessfullyunderminedtheEU2030renewableenergytargetsin2014,whentheEUdecidedthatthe27%targetforrenewablesintheenergymixwouldnotbebindingonindividualmemberstates. Tothisday,Shellcontinuestoarguethattheimpactsofcarbonpricingshouldbetemperedbyrebatesforindustry.OutsidetheEU,ShellhaslobbiedagainsteffortstointroducemoreambitioustargetsinCalifornia’scapandtradescheme,andopposedaWashingtonstatecarbontaxproposal. AnotherreasonthatShellsupportedcarbonpricingrelatestoitssupportforCCS,whichitarguesshouldreceivesubsidiespaidforbytheauctionofpollutionpermits.EvenCefic(theEUchemicalsindustrylobby,ofwhichShellisamember),admitsthatthecompanyhasa“vestedinterest”here,because“theyhaveinvestedalotofmoneyintoCCS.”   Nature-basedsolutions Shell’slatestclimateconceptinvolvespromoting“nature-basedsolutions”,focusingonthe“protectionandrestorationofnaturalecosystemssuchasforests,grasslandsandwetlands.”Thisisatextbookactof“greenwashing”–producingvideos,brochuresandotherPRmaterialsthatfeaturethrivingwoodlandsinordertomaskthedirtyrealityofShell’scoreactivity. “Nature-basedsolutions”isanewnameforanoldidea:promotingforestry(andotherlanduse)projectsasan“offset”forcontinuedfossilfueluse.Thecarbonabsorbedbyforestsiscountedand“credits”arethenissuedforsupposed“emissionssavings”,whichcanthenbeusedbyShelltojustifyitscontinuedextraction,refiningandsaleofoilandgas.ThecompanypromisedtosetasideUS$100millionayeartoinvestinnaturalecosystemprojectsby2021,asignificantsuminthecontextofaforestcarbonmarketthathasfailedtotakeoff,butadropintheoceancomparedtotheoverallsizeofShell’sbusiness.Moreoveritisalsoaveryriskybusinessforthemanylocalcommunitiesthatcanfindthemselvesdisplacedasaresultoflandgrabsforsuchlucrativeoffsettingprojects. ThecredibilityofShell’sinvestmentinecosystemsalsoseemstobesomewhatunderminedbythecompany’sbio-ethanolproductionoperationsinBrazil,whereitownsa50percentstakeinRaízen,amulti-billiondollarcompanythatisoneofthelargestplayersinanindustrythathasdrivenwidescaledeforestationintheAmazon. Thesearealsothefinalpiecesofthejigsaw,thatallowShelltoclaimitsupportstheParisAgreement.Shell’sinvestmentinoffsetsallowittoclaimthatits“net”emissionswillreducetozero,evenasitcontinuestoextractoilandgas.Therealityisthatburningfossilfuelsandstoringcarbonintreesandsoilcannotbecompared–andthatanyhopeofrestrictingclimatechangeto1.5degreesrequiresrealforestrestorationandpreservationinadditiontorapidlyphasingoutfossilfuels. ShellScenarios:PieintheSky Shellhasbeenpublishingenergymodelssincethe1970s.IthasincreasinglyturneditsmodellingintoaPRexercisedesignedtoconvincetheworldthatitissustainable.Thecompany’smostrecentscenarioshavebeengivennaturalnamesthatwouldn'tsoundoutofplaceinayogastudio:“Mountains”,“Ocean”and“Sky”!“Mountains”envisagesaworldwheregasisthe“backbone”ofglobalenergysystems,while“Oceans”envisagesgreaterrelianceonoilandcoal,eventuallyeclipsedbysolarpower,buttooslowlytoavoidovershootingthe2°Ctemperaturegoal. Againstthisbackdrop,Shellhasdevelopedthe“Skyscenario”as“atechnicallypossible,butchallengingpathwayforsocietytoachievethegoalsoftheParisAgreement.”“Sky”isnotapredictionorasetofpolicyproposals,butmoreofanideal-typethatadherestotheprojectionsofthosepartsofthecompanythatworkon“sustainability”(ratherthanthemuchlargerbusinessunitswhosetaskissimplytoexploitevermoreoilandgas).Itenvisages“net-zeroemissions”by2070.Thescenarioratherambitiouslyassumestheglobaladoptionofcarbon-pricingmechanisms,thebuildingof10,000CCSfacilities(therearecurrentlyjustover50),astep-changeinenergyefficiency,andsignificantreforestation. Shell’sscenariosgiveinsightsintohowitseesthe“risksandopportunities”ofaworldtransitioningto“lower-carbonenergy.”However,theyarenotareliableguidetowhatthecompanyisdoingorplanstodo.Shell’senergyscenariosshouldultimatelybeseenaspartofabroadergreenwashingefforttopromotethecompanyasaclimateexpertthatprovides“energyideas”,andaPRoperationtosuggestitisaforward-looking,sustainablecompany.   HowShellistryingtomakeitsdystopiacometrue: Investinginafossilfuelfuture “Despitewhatalotofactivistssay,itisentirelylegitimatetoinvestinoilandgasbecausetheworlddemandsit”-BenvanBeurden,ShellCEO. TheextentofShell’songoingcommitmenttoexploitingoilandgastendstobehiddenbythecompany’sPRefforts,butitiscrystalclearinitsinvestmentportfolio.ShellisEurope’sbiggestoilandgascompany,andintendstoremainso.Beforethepandemicexploded,itwasplanningmorethan35newoilandgasprojectsby2025.Shellhasplanstodiversifyitsbusinesseventually–mostoilcompaniesdo–butthatfuturewillcomemoreslowlythanthecompany’sshiny“sustainability”brochuresimply. Shell’s“growthpriorities”inthecomingyearsareindeep-wateroilexplorationandthechemicalssector.Halfofthe24“majorprojects”initsinvestmentprofilearedeepwateroilandgasprojects(intheGulfofMexico,Brazil,Malaysia,NigeriaandNorway),whichitsayshave“significantgrowthpotential.”Theremainderofitsmajorprojectsunderdevelopmentincludeconventional(offshore)oilandgas,petrochemicals,gas-to-powerandLNGplants. Theseinvestmentscouldhardlybefurtherremovedfromongoingeffortstoavertclimatechaos,andthecompanyadmitsthatitwillcontinuetoinvestsignificantlyinnewoilandgascapacityforatleastthenexttwodecades.Shellintendstodevelop“NewEnergies”furtherinthefuture,butitisdippingitstoesintothewaterratherthandivingrightin.Beforethecoronaviruscrisis,justUS$1bn-$2bnofShell’sannual$25bn-$30bncapitalexpenditurewasfor“low-carbon”projects,andthisseemstoonlygolowernow. Moreover,Shell’sNewEnergiesinvestmentsarenotguaranteedtobeclean.Thecompanyisasheavilyinvestedinbiofuelsandhydrogen-poweredcarsasitisinwindpowerandelectricvehiclecharging.The“ShellVentures”division,whichinvestsinnewtechnologies,hasanequalinterestindeepwateroilextractiontechnologiesandinnextgenerationsolarpanels.Shellalsosees“longerterm”opportunitiesfrominvestmentinshalegasinNorthAmericaandArgentina. Beforetheyetunknownimpactofthecoronaviruscrisis,Shellwasforecasttoincreaseoutputby38%by2030,increasingitscrudeoilproductionbymorethanhalfanditsgasproductionbyoveraquarter.Ifyoufollowthemoneyratherthanthecompany’swords,itisclearthatShellisaimingtocontinueprofitingfromoilandgasproductionforaslongaspossible,aswellasdedicatingsignificantresourcesto“extreme”fossilfuelslikedeepseaoildrilling(Shelloperatesthedeepestoffshoreoilandgasprojectintheworld)andfrackingforgas. Shell’slobbymillions Shellspendsmillionsofdollarsannuallylobbyinggovernmentsandinternationalinstitutionsaroundtheworld.IntheEUalone,ShellhasthethirdlargestindividualcompanyspendonlobbyinginBrussels(afterGoogleandMicrosoft)-itspentover€4.5millionin2019.Italsoranksasthetwenty-secondlargestlobbyistoverall,comingafteranumberofindustryfederationsandPRcompanies. SidenoteShelliscountedas22ndratherthan23rdbecauseitislikelythatthelobbyspendforUGTSpainisincorrectShellisontheExecutiveBoardofCEFIC,Brussels’largestlobbyist,whichhasa€10.5millionannualspend. Since2010,Shell,andthetenlobbygroups SidenoteBusinessEurope,theEuropeanRoundtableforIndustry(ERT),EuropeanChemicalIndustryCouncil(Cefic),EUROGAS,EuropeanEnergyForum(EEF),FuelsEurope,HydrogenEurope,InternationalEmissionsTradingAssociation(IETA),InternationalAssociationofOil&GasProducers(IOGP),ETIPZEP(ZEP)itdeclaresitselftobeamemberofintheEU’sTransparencyRegister,havespentover€215millionbuyinginfluenceattheheartoftheEU.Inadditiontothemoney,ShellenjoysprivilegedaccesstoEUdecisionmakers. SidenoteTheexactfigureis€215,317,227million SinceNovember2104(whenitbecameobligatoryforhigh-levelofficialsoftheEuropeanCommissiontoregistertheirmeetingswithlobbyists)thecompanyhashad67meetingswiththeCommission’selite.IfwecountthenumberofmeetingsthatnotonlyShell,butalsothelobbygroupsitisamemberofhad,thenumberrisesto569-almosttwoperweek!ThisishardlysurprisinggiventhearmyoflobbyistsdeclaredbyShellanditsallies-175! ItisthesameintheUS,whereastudyofbigoilandgasfoundthatthesecompanieshadspentoverUS$400milliononlobbyingbetween2010and2016.ShellisamemberofallofthemajorUSlobbygroups,andwhilemuchhasbeenmadeofitsplantowithdrawfromtheAmericanFuelandPetrochemicalManufacturersassociation,itremainspartofthefarmoreinfluentialAmericanPetroleumInstituteandUSChamberofCommerce.Thesegroupshaveroutinelylobbiedagainstclimateregulations.   Conclusion:afossil-freefuture Stripawaythegreenbrochures,thetechno-optimismofcarbonpluckeddirectlyfromtheairatamassivescale,andtheheartfeltcommitmenttolettingthemarketresolveaclimatecrisisthatitwaskeytocreating,andShell’sfuturevisionremainsonewhereoilandgasareburnedfarbeyondplanetaryboundaries. Shell’sclimaterhetoricisdesignedtosignalthatitisthecleanestofthebigoilcompanies.Evenifthatweretrue–itislikeclaimingtomakethehealthiestcigarettes.Intheend,theystillkillyou. Thetobaccoanalogyisfarfromarbitrary.In2003,theWorldHealthOrganizationactedtoprotectpolicy-makingfromtheinfluenceofthetobaccoindustry(viaarticle5.3oftheWHOFrameworkConventiononTobaccoControl).Itishightimefortheworldtoadoptthesameapproachtothefossilfuelindustry.WemustkickShellandotherbigpollutersoutoftheconferencehallswhereclimatepolicyisnegotiated,andoutoftheEUinstitutionsandnationalcapitals.Thiswouldfinallyclearonemajorobstacletotakingactioncommensuratewiththescaleoftheclimatecrisis.WeneedFossilFreePoliticsbeforeit’stoolate! Methodologyanddisclaimer ThiscontentisthesoleresponsibilityofCorporateEuropeObservatory(CEO)andshouldnotberegardedasreflectingthepositionofanyofthemorethan200organisationssupportingthecallforfossil-freepolitics,includingthefounders. TransparencyRegisterdataonLobbyFacts–whichshowsallpreviousversionsofanorganisation’slobbyregisterentry–wasusedtocalculatethehistoricalspendingfigures.(ec.europa.eu/transparencyregisterandlobbyfacts.eu-accessedon14thMay2020).Wherethespendingfigureforaparticularyearwaschanged/updated,themostrecentfigurewasused.Whereathresholdlobbyexpenditurewasdeclared,theupperfigurewasused.ETIPZEPhashadtwoentriesintheTransparencyRegister,onenowexpired(“ETPZEP(ZEP)”)andonecurrentlyactive(“ETIPZEP(ZEP)”)–lobbyspendingfiguresfromboththeexpiredandthecurrentlyactiveentriesareusedtocoverallrelevantspendingdeclarationsfortheyears2012-2018(onlyonesdeclared). Thelobbyspendingfiguresusedintheseinfographicsareinfactonlythetipoftheiceberg.Thesefiguresdonottouchonthemillionsbeingspentonmisleadingclimate-relatedbrandingoradvertising.What’smore,thesefiguresarebasedonlyonthosedeclaredintheEU’svoluntaryTransparencyRegisterovertheperiodfrom2010onwards-aperiodwhichhasbeenplaguedbyabsences,omissionsandunrealisticallylowdeclarations.Notallorganisationjoinedtheregisterfromthebeginning,inspiteoftheirlobbying. ThedataonhighlevellobbymeetingsispulledfromtheEuropeanCommission’spublicrecordascompiledbyIntegrityWatch(integritywatch.eu-accessedon14thMay2020).SinceNovember2014,EuropeanCommissioners,theircabinetsandtheDirector-GeneraloftheEuropeanCommissioncannotmeetlobbyiststhatarenotregisteredintheTransparencyRegister.TheyarealsoobligedtopubliclydeclarethosemeetingsontheEuropeanCommission’swebsite. Relatedarticles 22.10.2019 BigOilandGasbuyinginfluenceinBrussels 22.10.2019 Wedemand#FossilFreePolitics Helpusstayindependent WeareasmallteamthatworksfullyindependentlyoffundingfromEU institutionsandcorporations. EverysingledonationhelpsusfighttheholdofBigBusinessovertheEU. Donate