New figures released today show that the boycott of Esso petrol is hitting the oil giant at the pump. The news comes as the company stands accused of sabotaging a deal at the Earth Summit to deliver renewable energy to the world's poorest regions.
Polling by MORI Social Research Institute shows the number of petrol buyers who say they regularly buy their petrol from Esso has fallen by around a quarter in a year, while more than one million motorists say they are boycotting Esso because of their stance on global warming.
The campaign against the world's richest company was launched last year after Esso was credited with bringing about the US withdrawal from the Kyoto global warming treaty. This week it is accused of blocking international efforts to set a target for global generation of clean renewable energy.
A letter sent to President Bush by Esso front groups last month called on the US administration to avoid signing any new treaties at the summit in Johannesburg, which they described as 'anti-Western.' The signatories to the letter, who were cumulatively funded by Esso to the tune of more than $1million, went on to claim that a lack of clean drinking water is the 'greatest environmental obstacle' and that global warming is the 'least important issue.' They then told Bush to keep climate change 'off the table and out of the spotlight.'
In the event the US negotiators struck agreement on water but blocked a deal on renewable energy that was at the centre of the summit's efforts to tackle global warming. Some of the language in the eventual text closely reflects Dick Cheney's controversial energy plan - said to have been written largely by Esso.
But the MORI figures suggest that many consumers have become disillusioned by the oil corporation's record of sabotage. The high-profile boycott campaign, supported by celebrities including Bianca Jagger and Rory Bremner, has shone a light on the company's activities, and now it appears that members of the public are turning their backs on Esso.
Asked last year where they regularly fill up their cars, 26 per cent of petrol buyers replied Esso. That figure has now fallen to 19 per cent. In the same period the number who say they regularly visit BP has gone from 18 to 21 per cent - unlike Esso, BP accepts climate change is happening and is caused by human activity.
In July 2002, 5 per cent of car drivers told MORI they were already boycotting the company while 47 per cent claimed they would join the boycott if they were asked to by environmental groups.
Greenpeace campaigner Rob Gueterbock said: 'The chickens are coming home to roost for the world's number one climate villain. For years Esso has sabotaged every meaningful effort to tackle global warming, including this week's attempt to strike a deal at Johannesburg. But now a million motorists in Britain are punishing Esso at the pumps. If we are going to stop Bush we have to stop Esso. Now everyone can do their bit by joining the growing boycott.'
The Esso letter to Bush was defended by the company's Public Affairs supremo Gordon Sawyer, who described the signatories as 'respectable conservative groups.' One of them is the Freedom Alliance, set up by Lt Col Oliver North after his career went into nosedive during senate hearings into the illegal sales of weapons to Iran. Another group described by Esso as 'respectable' is the US National Anxiety Center, which claims the UN has a 'socialist agenda' because it was 'created by diplomats from the former Soviet Union and U.S. diplomats who were Soviet agents.' The Center's website describes Islam as a 'bankrupt failure.' Another signatory of the Esso letter is the Texas Eagle Forum, whose 'A1' policy priority is to fight liberals 'who want to repeal the law against sodomy.'
For more information call Ben Stewart at Greenpeace on 020 7865 8283
Notes - Since George Bush came to power there have been numerous episodes of Esso engaging in dirty tricks to scupper action on climate change:
- February 6th 2001 a fax from Esso to the head of the White House Center for Environmental Quality asking, "Can Watson be replaced now at the request of the US?" Dr Bob Watson was the respected head of the UN global warming panel and supported mandatory government action to stop climate change. President Bush complied with Esso's request and lobbied successfully to have Dr. Watson removed from his position.
- September 2001, the draft final report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change included the line: 'The Earth's climate system has demonstrably changed on both global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era, with some of these changes attributable to human activities'. Esso lobbied to amend the text by deleting 'with some of these changes attributable to human activities'. The IPCC rejected the amendment.
- June 7th, 2002 groups funded by Esso called for President Bush to denounce the report put out by his own Environmental Protection Agency. The report documents the negative impacts of global warming on the U.S.
In August 2001 and July 2002, MORI asked: Thinking now about buying petrol and diesel, which brands of petrol and diesel, if any, do you regularly buy? In August 2001 26% said Esso and 18% BP, in July 2002 19% said Esso and 21% BP.
MORI also asked:
Environmental groups claim that American oil company, Esso, is trying to block action to stop global warming. Environmental groups are suggesting that in order to change this company's behaviour, people should stop buying petrol from Esso petrol stations. If asked would you stop buying petrol or diesel from Esso petrol stations or not?
In July 2002, 47% said 'Yes I would if asked' while 5% said 'Yes I have already stopped buying petrol from Esso'
The two surveys were carried out 9 - 14 August 2001; and 25-30 July 2002. The survey results are based on nationally representative quota samples of 976 adults aged 15+, and 998 adults aged 15+ respectively. Interviews were carried out face-to-face, in-home in 194 and 191 sampling points across Great Britain. Data have been weighted to the population profile.
For further details, please contact John Leaman or Andrew Norton at MORI john.leaman@mori.com, andrew.norton@mori.com
