A portrait of UK PM David Cameron satirizes his ties with fossil fuel interests, during the COP21 climate conference in Paris, 30 November 2015. Artwork by Bill Posters. Photo: Brandalisim

By Arthur Neslen and Emma Howard
1 December 2015 (The Guardian) – A survey of 10 sponsors of the Paris climate summit has found that most do not publish data on their CO2 emissions, half don’t track their lifetime carbon footprint, and only one is reducing its emissions in line with the EU’s targets. Full details of the summit’s sponsorship deals will not be made public until after its close, although campaigners say that the €16.9m raised so far represents barely 10% of overall costs, and half of what was expected. But for an average €547,000 payment, multinationals such as Renault, L’Oreal and Engie can buy themselves valuable publicity that disguises their true emissions record, according to the study by Observatoire des Multinationales. “There is no denying that a lot of people in these companies are making efforts, but it is shocking that only one of them is reducing its emissions in line with the EU’s long-term plans,” said Olivier Petitkean, one of the report’s authors. “A lot of them are continuing to increase their greenhouse gas emissions, which suggests that they are more concerned with publicity than their carbon footprint,” he added. “This is also called greenwash.” […]

Separately, a series of fake adverts have appeared across Paris, designed to parody and highlight what campaigners say is the “hypocrisy” of the summit’s corporate sponsors. “Tackling climate change? Of course not, we’re an airline,” reads the spoof of Air France. “We’re sorry we got caught,” apologises the parody of Volkswagen, the car manufacturer at the forefront of the diesel emissions scandal. Other designs satirise Engie and ExxonMobil, as well as Dow Chemicals, known for a lethal accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal 30 years ago. Politicians at the landmark talks are also targeted. David Cameron is pictured dressed as a racing car driver and Barack Obama is depicted swimming in the sea with his daughter as an oil rig burns behind them. The 600 unauthorised adverts were designed by 80 artists including many of those who contributed to Bansky’s Dismaland project that opened in the UK in August – such as Neta Harari, Jimmy Cauty, Paul Insect, Escif and Kennard Phillips. [more]

Paris climate summit: Survey reveals ‘greenwash’ of corporate sponsors