COP21: Big Oil in hiding at Paris climate talks

With signs reading "freeze tar sands expansion" and othersimilar messages, members ofa group called the Canadian Youth Delegationchant as loud as they can.

They're hard to miss asthey shout from themain concourse insidethe United Nationsconference on climate changein Paris.

"The time for action is now," CalgarianNimraAmjad says in an interview."It's important to show that youth from Alberta care about a green-energy economy and that we want to shift away from fossil fuels."

The next day, another group with a similar tune:Oil Change International callingfor countries, including Canada, to stop subsidizing fossil-fuel companies. The demonstrationis led byAlexDoukas, a Canadian who has lived in Calgary and Toronto.

'This is not a battle between catastrophists and complacents. It's a battle for good ideas'- DonnaKennedy-Glans, Viewpoints Alberta

Daily demonstrations are the norm at this conference, with fossil-fuel companies frequently the prime target. It's one reason why the big oil and gas companies are keeping a low profile in Paris.

One week into the conference and it seems those energy companies prefer ad campaigns and sponsorships here in Paris, instead of setting up public pavilions and booths, as hundreds of other government organizations, NGOsand companies have done.

Media interviews are regularly refused and, when executives do speak at one of the countless conference events,the moderator is either part of an energy companyor at the very leastan industry-friendly voice.

Another reason for averting attention is the scandal brewing in the United States with Exxon Mobil.

New York's attorney general is examining whether Exxon Mobildeceived investors about the causes and impacts of climate change. The companyrejects the notion it suppressed research.

One oil executive from a different companysaid he wasn't allowed to do any interviews because his head office is worried aboutthe Exxon Mobil developments.The executive said his company didn'twant anyone to saysomething wrongat the UN conference, a massive international environmental stage.

Big Oil's low-key approachin Paris isunderstandable on one hand and yet absurd on the other.

Calgarian Nimra Amjad protests at COP21

9 years ago

Duration 1:04

Calgarian Nimra Amjad explains why she is part of a demonstration against fossil fuels

Why hide?

"I don't get the low-profile myself," says Donna Kennedy-Glans, a former Calgary oil executive and provincial politician."This is not a battle betweencatastrophistsand complacents.It's a battle for good ideas."

She is part of Viewpoints Alberta, a group aiming to spur conversation about the province's energy future.

"If I were an oil company representative and I were here," says Kennedy-Glans,"I would to talk to as many people as possible aboutwhat works, what doesn't work and how do we get all hands on deck?"

The lack of presenceby theoiland gas industry at the climate conferencespeaks to a growing disconnect between the energy sector and general public.

"It's easy to imagine a prolonged, public struggle going forward," saidElliotDiringer, with theCenter for Climate and Energy Solutions,during a presentation at the UN conference."That will mean a shrinking space for collaboration and co-operation. It's incumbent on the industry to think about how it positions itself in light of that and how it responds."

BP executive Liz Rogers on the role of Big Oil at the Paris climate talks

9 years ago

Duration 0:38

BP vice president Liz Rogers talks to CBC about what impact the oil industry can have at COP21.

He suggests environmentalists, especially,will be energized by the Paris talks to be more aggressive with Big Oil.

"I think there are strong signs of increasing pressure from many elements of civil society on industry," said Diringer."They've scored points on the coal industry and are now turning their sights to the oil industry."

Image problem

The oil and gas sector does not have much to gain at these negotiations. Nevertheless, the companies arepushing for countries to adopt carbon pricing systems and for nations to come up with a strong climate agreement, so industry knows what to expect in the years ahead.

Diringer suggests the oil and gas companies are missing an opportunity to improve perception. Big Oil CEOs should not just talk about wanting carbon pricing, but should roll up their sleeves and aggressively lobbying for such policies. In addition, they needto explain how theysee theirbusiness model evolving and can theyoffer a convincing vision of surviving and thriving in a low carbon world.

[Environmentalists]scored points on the coal industry and are now turning their sights to the oil industry.- ElliotDiringer, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Diringer hasadvice foroil executives:"You are really going to have to devote some energy to repositioning the image of the industry as a solution instead of as a problem."

It's difficult for Big Oil to even cast itself as committed to helping the world transitionto a low-carbon future, since the investments by them in renewable energy aredwarfed by the money spent on new oil and gas projects.

Future of oil

"Oil and gas ...will still be an importantpart of the mix for the foreseeable future." said GrardMoutet, avice-president with oil and gas companyTotal."If we look to 2030, oil pollution will be about the same today and more gas pollution."

Moutet made those comments on a big stage, following a speech by Al Gore, in front of hundreds of people. Not everyone was pleased.

"For me it's just not understandable because we all know that 80 per cent of all fossil fuels have to be kept in the ground for us to have a future," said one woman from the environmental group 350.org, who stood up immediately to comment."When you talk about your business plan, I don't care and I don't believe it."

These types of interactions have been rare becausethe events that most oil executives are participating in were scheduled for Friday night and late Saturday afternoon, when many delegates and environmentalists are off enjoying the Paris sights and nightlife. At most, 20 people attended both sessions.

It's obvious from the protests in Paris theindustry has an image problem, but Big Oil itself can't seem to acknowledge that. It's continually on the defensive, instead of joining the conversation.

It's bafflingbecause if the stakes are as high as scientists fear, everyone needs to contribute, especially the companies with expertise in the energy field.

The Paris climate conference isthe biggest environmental event of the decade and so far, a missed opportunity for an oil and gas industry that doesn't seem motivated to sit at the table.