Open letter: Clean Creatives – Edelman must drop fossil fuels
· 2 min read
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Climate Change · Environmental Sustainability
Gokul Shekar
Effects · Climate Change
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Mitigation · Climate Change
Financial Times
Carbon Market · Public Governance
The Guardian
Climate Change · Agriculture
The Guardian
Agriculture · Climate Change
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As creators, communicators, and experts dedicated to climate action, we are frequently asked by public relations and advertising agencies to participate in climate campaigns, particularly surrounding the UN Climate Talks, or COP.
However, this year’s climate talks, COP30, face an unavoidable conflict of interest and barrier to the responsible communication about the negotiations. The PR company Edelman has been contracted to work directly with the hosts of COP30, while simultaneously working with at least 10 different fossil fuel polluters who are seeking to obstruct the climate action we need. Edelman makes more of their revenue from fossil fuels than any PR company of their size.
During the upcoming negotiations, Edelman staff will be writing talking points for the climate talks that we are expected to use and amplify, while simultaneously advocating for the oil and gas industry. In fact, one key Edelman leader in Brazil is personally overseeing communications for both COP30 and Shell at the same time.
Our planet is at a tipping point, not just in terms of our climate, but in our culture. Fossil fuel companies aided by PR agencies are contributing to a misinformation crisis that could halt climate progress. Companies like Shell’s commitment to expanding oil and gas production at the cost of clean energy demonstrates clearly where they stand in this crucial moment.
We strongly believe Edelman is the wrong choice to support COP30. We call on UN leaders and the Brazilian government to act to protect information integrity on climate change, and ensure the public receives accurate, positive updates from the climate talks, untainted by oil industry influence. If Edelman doesn’t drop fossil fuels, Brazil should drop Edelman.
Respectfully,
Ariana Jasmine Afshar
Blair Imani Ali
Jorge Alvarez
Celia Avila
Alyssa Barber
Lauren Bash
Rachel Bender
Allie Bennett
Syanne Bloom
Caitlin Blunnie
Carissa Cabrera
Trust Chikodzo
Andrew Conboy
Jess Craven
Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy
AJ Dronkers
Niha Elety
Oli Frost
Dr. Ella Gilbert
Kate Glavan
Alejandra Gomez
Tolmeia Gregory
Robert Hall
Victoria Hammett
Alexis Hinkley
Clover Hogan
Cam James
Mary Jelkovsky
Raeon Jones
Daniel Jubelirer
Sabs Katz
Emma Kemp
Suzanne Lambert
Abigail Leung
Dr. Jennifer Lincoln
Mikaela Loach
Joycelyn Longdon
Yeganeh Mafaher
Mckenzie Margarethe
Bill McKibben
Galilea Méndez
Lindsay Meyer-Harley
Saadia Mirza
Jackie Nganga
Julie Oliver
Bodhi Patil
Olivia Phillips
Gwilym Pugh
Mandy Rae
Qasim Rashid
Randall Reade
Abbie Richards
Laura Saldarriaga Rogers
Sylvia Salazar
Birdie Sam
Raven Schwam-Curtis
Julia “JEWLIEAH” Sena
Jacob Simon
Brittany Skyy
Hazel Thayer
Tori Tsui
Slade Wentworh
Nicole Whittle
Sara Wiles
Alaina Wood
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