BP and COP15

"BP was formerly a member of the Global Climate Coalition (GCC): The coalition has heavily lobbied governments and has mounted persuasive advertising campaigns in the US to turn public opinion against concrete action on greenhouse gas emissions. BP, attempting to brand itself as progressive was one of the first to withdraw from GCC. In 1998 Shell followed BP and left the coalition and by early 2000 Texaco and others were joining the movement away from the GCC. While the GCC was an overt lobby against action on climate change, since it was sidelined other lobby groups have come to the fore which are more subtle in their tactics.

BP takes a high profile position within the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) For details of WBCSD's position on climate change: (www.wbcsd.org/projects/pr_climenergy.htm)

BP also belongs to the US Council for International Business (USCIB) [115] Other prominent members of the council include: the American Petroleum Institute, Chevron (oil Co.), Mobil, Shell (oil), and Texaco (oil). The USCIB is the US affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE). Most significantly USCIB chairs the expert-group of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)[117].

BP also holds positions within the Centre for European Policy Studies [118] (CEPS) [www.ceps.be]

BP's chief executive officer (CEO) is entitled to sit at the Business Roundtable [120]. The roundtable's position is explained in Rush to Judgment: A Primer on Global Climate Change, available on the group's website. [ www.globalchange.org/gccd/gcc-digest/1997/d97sep17.htm]

The European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT), which includes BP is a club of 48 captains of industry drawn from the largest European multinationals. With privileged access to EU and national decision-makers the roundtable has been at the forefront in promoting industry self-regulation over government-enforceable mechanisms.

BP also belongs to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) [125]: "The only representative body that speaks with authority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world." [126] [www.iccwbo.org]. ICC promotes free trade and the market economy with the conviction that "trade is a powerful force for peace and prosperity" [127]. ICC aims to be a forum where business can agree voluntary rules to govern world trade in the hope that this image of responsible industry self-regulation will persuade governments not to interfere. It proved so successful in this that within a year of the creation of the United Nations, ICC was granted consultative status at the UN [128].

Links with government The strength of BP's links to Britain's New-Labour government became apparent within weeks of their election in 1997 when they appointed former chair of BP David Simon (Lord Simon of Highbury) to a position in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as Minister for Competitiveness in Europe.

BP is represented on a number of government QUANGOs: DTI Advisory Panel on Photovoltaics, Council for Science & Technology, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Advice Committee on Business and Environment, Industrial Development Advice Board, UK Round Table on Sustainable Development, and the Oil and Pipelines Agency.

Greenwash A key plank of BP's marketing strategy has been to portray itself as a green company. BP has promoted new 'cleaner' fuels and publicised its targets for reducing CO2 emissions from its own operations (eg. by reducing gas flaring), not mentioning its ambitious targets for increased production of fossil fuels. In his introduction to BP's annual report 2000 John Browne prescribes that for the immediate future hydrocarbons will continue to meet the majority of our energy needs.

BP has further greened its image by being seen to talk with Oxfam and Friends of the Earth. The marketing spin pushed by BP Solar is that "BP Solar is a recognized leader in protecting the environment and believes solar power is a key element to reduce the threat of global climate change and improve air quality." [132]

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References [112] www.worldwatch.org/chairman/issue/000725.html [113] www.wbcsd.org/aboutus/members.htm [114] www.wbcsd.org/newscenter/library.htm [115] www.transnationale.org/anglais/fiches/109.htm [116] www.imex.com/uscib/ [117] www.xs4all.nl/~ceo/mai/uscib.html [118] www.transnationale.org/anglais/fiches/109.htm [119] www.ceps.be/Pubs/News/ [120] www.transnationale.org/anglais/fiches/109.htm [121] www.brtable.org/ [122] www.globalchange.org/gccd/gcc-digest/1997/d97sep17.htm [123] www.iccwbo.org/home/menu_global_compact.asp [124] www.xs4all.nl/~ceo/greenhouse/european.html [125] www.iccwbo.org/home/intro_icc/links_to_member_companies.asp [126] www.iccwbo.org [127] www.iccwbo.org [128] www.iccwbo.org/home/intro_icc/introducing_icc.asp [129] www.transnationale.org/anglais/fiches/109.htm [130] www.africacncl.org/about/index.htm [131] BP annual report 2000, p6 [132] www.bpsolar.com [133] www.bpsolar.com BP Plc"