Despite calls to stop representing polluters, Edelman will continue to promote one of the world’s biggest producers of oil and gas.
onMay 13, 2024 @ 14:20 PDT
The global PR giant Edelman has won the bidding war for Shell’s worldwide public relations account — the latest extension of the two companies’ decades-long relationship.
As first reported on Monday by Provoke Media, the account is “estimated in the eight-figure range” — placing Shell among Edelman’s most lucrative clients.
Edelman, which states publicly that it “believes climate change is the biggest crisis we face as a society,” has been described by the Climate Investigations Center as “the dominant PR firm for trade associations that promote an anti-environmental agenda.” Campaigners charge that this kind of spin has helped insulate Shell and corporations like it from pressure to slash carbon pollution, further delaying the global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
In March, according to its latest “energy transition strategy,” Shell abandoned a key climate target for 2035 and weakened another goal for 2030.
Edelman did not immediately respond to DeSmog’s request for comment. A Shell spokesperson confirmed that “following a competitive tender process, Edelman has been reappointed as global provider of public relations services to Shell.”
This is a developing story.
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Ellen is a reporter with interests across climate, culture, and industry. She was previously a senior reporter covering sustainability at The Drum. Her work has also been featured in The Guardian.
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