“Fossil Fuel Companies Invest $5.6 Billion in Global Sports Sponsorships to ‘Sportswash’ Climate Crisis Impact” 2024-09-18

Fossil fuel companies have invested at least $5.6 billion in sponsorships across various sports, including motorsports, football, golf, and winter sports, as part of a strategy to "buy social license to operate," according to a recent report by the (NWI), a climate think tank. This funding is seen as an attempt to divert attention from the companies' significant contributions to the climate crisis. The research conducted by NWI reveals that nearly every major spectator sport has been influenced by financial backing from the oil and gas sector, with over 200 sponsorship deals identified between sports teams and these industries. The report highlights the pervasive nature of fossil fuel money in sports and its implications for public perception and environmental accountability.

climate change and sports partnerships climate crisis and sports sponsorship environmental impact of sports sponsorship financial influence of fossil fuels in athletics fossil fuel companies sponsorship deals fossil fuel funding in major spectator sports fossil fuel industry and public perception fossil fuel influence in football impact of fossil fuel money in sports New Weather Institute report on sports sponsorship oil and gas sponsorship in motorsports social licence to operate in sports sponsorship deals in golf and snow sports sports teams sponsored by oil companies sportswashing funding by oil and gas firms

Question 1: What is the total amount of sponsorship money that fossil fuel companies have invested in sports, according to the report?

Fossil fuel companies have invested at least $5.6 billion (£4.2 billion) in sponsorship deals across various sports.

Question 2: What is the primary purpose of these sponsorship deals as suggested by the New Weather Institute?

The primary purpose of these sponsorship deals is to "buy social licence to operate" and divert attention from the fossil fuel companies' role in contributing to the climate crisis.

Question 3: Which types of sports are mentioned as being affected by fossil fuel sponsorship?

The report indicates that almost all major spectator sports, including motorsports, football, golf, and snow sports, have been impacted by sponsorship from oil and gas companies.

Question 4: Who conducted the research on fossil fuel sponsorship in sports?

The research was carried out by the New Weather Institute (NWI), a climate thinktank.

Question 5: How many sponsorship deals were traced in the report?

The report traced more than 200 sponsorship deals between sports teams and the fossil fuel industry.