A global trend
Aramco isn’t alone in pouring mammoth sums into global sports events aiming to legitimize its fossil fuel production and market its products to millions of sports fans.
Including Aramco, top fossil-fuel firms like TotalEnergies and Shell and petrochemical giant Ineos have together injected “at least” $5.6 billion through 205 active sponsorship deals, the report calculated. Most of the deals remain opaque, however, so their exact amounts, duration and conditions are unknown.
“Sportswashing isn’t new,” Orr said, noting the practice was developed by Western oil companies to head off potential uprisings in local communities that were grappling with worker rights and public safety.
“For decades, sports have been a very effective tool for selling things, from sports drinks to shoes, flights to cereal,” she added.
According to the study, the sports that attract the largest sums include football, motor sports, rugby union and golf.
To crack down on sportswashing, the authors of the report implored sports organizations like world football governing body FIFA and the International Olympic Committee to introduce tobacco-like bans on sponsorship from fossil fuel firms. They should also ensure that the green credentials of future donors are scrutinized, the authors said.
“If sport is used as a billboard to promote the very companies, products and lifestyles that fuel climate breakdown, it becomes at best an obstacle to climate action, and at worst fans the flames of a heating planet,” the report stressed.
