New research from Clean Creatives has uncovered 500 fossil fuel contracts from 294 different agencies over the past year, with WPP topping the list with 55.
Ogilvy had the most public fossil fuel contracts, with at least seven fossil fuel contracts including BP and Petrobas, while Pitch Digital was the independent agency with the most contracts, with 22.
“This year’s F-list is a snapshot of agencies in denial about the climate impact of their work for fossil fuels. Scientists and global leaders have condemned the work carried out by advertising and PR agencies to spread fossil fuel disinformation, and their warnings demand a response,” said Clean Creatives executive director Duncan Meisel.
He continued: “This is a turning point for the industry communications agencies who work for oil and gas clients are knowingly accelerating the global climate emergency, and their legal risks will accelerate, too.”
“The ad and PR industry cannot continue to be this far out of step with scientific and political reality and expect to avoid backlash.”
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Clean Creatives research director Nayanatra Dutta added: “This year, we focused on fossil fuel relationships from 2022 and 2023 and found a staggering 500 oil and gas contracts across 294 agencies in 45 countries.”
“This shows that, despite agencies’ net zero promises and sustainability pledges, they continue to promote the oil and gas industry. We share our data publicly to encourage transparency so that creatives at agencies can learn who they are actually working for and have the tools to take action,” she continued.
“Our research process is based on public records and we welcome corrections and updates from agencies who are no longer working with fossil fuel clients”.
