On Friday, more than 420 scientists demanded that the public relations company tasked with promoting the upcoming climate negotiations dump Saudi Aramco, Shell, and ExxonMobil as customers.
The company, Hill+Knowlton, will be the top PR firm at the next UN climate conference (COP27), which begin on Sunday in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Hundreds of leading scientists said in their letter Friday the firm should “end its relationship with fossil fuel clients that are worsening the climate crisis”.
In order to keep expanding fossil fuel output and consequently raising heat-trapping emissions, the scientists claimed that fossil fuel companies “have engaged Hill+Knowlton and other PR agencies to spin, delay, and mislead.”
“We firmly believe that Hill+Knowlton’s work for these clients is incompatible with its role leading public communications at the annual United Nations climate talks”, they added, referring to COP27.
Fossil Free Media, which promoted the open letter, said Hill+Knowlton’s clients include Saudi Arabia’s Aramaco, Britain’s Shell and the American firm ExxonMobil, along with the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative.
