Shell is facing allegations of not being transparent about its associations with influential pro-fossil fuel advocacy groups in developing countries, including India, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines, as reported by Jonathan Leake.
Investigations suggest that Shell is part of 80 organizations that promote the use of fossil fuels, a detail omitted in its annual reports on lobbying and transparency. Among these organizations are the Federation of the Indian Petroleum Industry, where Shell executives are on the governing committee, and the Philippine Institute of Petroleum, where the CEO of Pilipinas Shell is a board trustee.
Additionally, Shell’s membership in the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation was also reportedly undisclosed.
Nick Spooner, the UK representative for the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, which released the report, criticized Shell for not fully revealing the extent of its lobbying efforts.
The report, titled “In the Dark: Gaps in Shell’s Climate Lobbying Disclosures,” alleges that Shell has lobbied for new markets for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in India, increased demand in Southeast Asia, and resisted the shift to low-carbon energy sources in China, Mexico, and South Africa.
In the European Union and the USA, there are regulations requiring companies to disclose their lobbying expenditures. In 2022, Shell declared spending over €5.5 million in the EU and $5.2 million in the USA, but did not reveal the amounts spent in other regions.
Responding to these claims, a Shell spokesperson stated that the company has been reporting its key industry association memberships for over five years and plans to enhance its online disclosure of both direct and indirect lobbying related to climate and energy transition in more countries, including emerging markets, by the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Shell has consistently claimed its commitment to leading in transparency around corporate political engagement, aligning with standards set by Transparency International.
