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Message From the EditorEmily Satterwhite, an associate professor and director of Appalachian Studies in the Department of Religion and Culture at Virginia Tech, brought us a perspective from “the region [that] has powered the country’s growth.” We need to talk more about the role of Appalachia in the country’s energy system, she argues. That role should not continue to be intertwined with fossil fuels, but with green energy. “The future that Appalachia can and will lead is in renewable energy,” she writes. Read on. Late last week, our UK team reported on a well-connected public relations specialist who runs an anti-BBC pressure group, campaigned for a “hard” Brexit, and is working with climate science denial groups to oppose the UK’s net zero target. The reporting sheds new light on a network of PR agencies, right-wing politicians, and think-tanks drumming up opposition to climate policies as part of a broader drive to cut regulation and boost production of fossil fuels. Adam Barnett reports. Adam also dug into the unfolding scandal at British bank HSBC. Last week, it suspended its head of responsible investing at its asset management division after he said climate risks were exaggerated. HSBC reassured customers that it is “committed to driving the transition to a sustainable global economy” — but its numbers raise questions about the strength of that commitment. The bank has financed £103 billion in fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement was ratified in 2016, including nearly £14 billion in 2021 alone, £5.1 billion of which went towards fossil fuel expansion. Dive in. Have a story tip or feedback? Get in touch: [email protected]. Executive Director P.S. Our powerful public interest journalism is funded by our generous donors. If you’d like to help, can you chip in $10 or $20 right now? Appalachia Does Not Need More Fossil Fuel Greed— By Emily Satterwhite (4 min. read) —A fossil fuel executive recently told Fortune, “Appalachia is the elephant in the room,” referring to the claim that demand for natural gas is rising, while supply in Appalachia and the United States is falling. Such corporate executives would like to see expansion of production in order to bail out their dying industry. And Fortune’s interviewee is right. Appalachia is the elephant in the room. We need to talk more about the role of Appalachia in the country’s energy system. But what he gets wrong is that the future does not entail further dependence on fossil fuels. The future that Appalachia can and will lead is in renewable energy. READ MORERevealed: the PR Firm Behind the UK’s Net Zero Backlash— By Adam Barnett (4 min. read)—A well-connected public relations specialist who runs an anti-BBC pressure group and campaigned for a “hard” Brexit is working with climate science denial groups to oppose the UK’s net zero target, DeSmog can report. The finding sheds new light on a network of PR agencies, right-wing politicians and think-tanks working to drum up opposition to climate policies as part of a broader drive to cut regulation and boost production of fossil fuels. READ MORE‘The Mask Slipped’: HSBC Criticised For Suspending Exec While Still Pumping Billions into Fossil Fuels— By Adam Barnett (2 min. read)—HSBC has been accused of double standards after suspending an executive who said investors “need not worry” about climate change, while continuing to plough billions of pounds into fossil fuels. The British bank this week suspended the head of responsible investing at its asset management division after he gave a speech saying climate risks were exaggerated, asking: “Who cares if Miami is six metres underwater in 100 years? Amsterdam has been six metres underwater for ages and that’s a really nice place.” READ MOREItalian Activists’ Homes Searched by Police Following Gazprom Protests— By Stella Levantesi (3 min. read)—The homes of three Italian climate activists were searched by the Italian police last week over their alleged involvement in March in a protest against fossil gas in Milan, Italy. The search warrant, shared with DeSmog by one of the activists, alleges that the activists spray painted and vandalized the side of a building, headquarters of the companies Centrex and Weedoo, both of which are involved in the “sale and supply of gas and energy on behalf of Gazprom” a Russian state-owned fossil fuel company, the warrant says. The warrant states that the search is motivated by the assumption that “electronic devices” found may help “identify the accused” or contain “propagandistic material” tied to their “criminal conduct.” READ MOREGas Utility Sends Kid-Friendly Activity Books to Oregon Schools— By Nick Cunningham (8 min. read) —Oregon gas utility NW Natural offered free activity booklets in English and Spanish to schools in its service territory last year. The booklets target kids as young as kindergarten with games and puzzles that position fossil gas as a clean source of energy. The utility claims the materials relate to safety, and as a result, the company is trying to get ratepayers to cover the costs of the campaign. But a coalition of environmental groups opposing the move argue that the school booklet initiative was instead a propaganda campaign aimed at influencing children. READ MOREFrom the Climate Disinformation Database: Joe ManchinJoseph Manchin III is a Democratic U.S. Senator from West Virginia, who has described as a “longtime ally of the coal industry.” Following the 2020 election, Manchin became chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This committee oversees policy on the leasing of drilling and mining for oil, coal, gas, and other mineral resources on federal public lands, as well as strategic petroleum reserves, nuclear energy, Indian affairs, and more. During President Biden’s first full year in office, Manchin blocked passage of legislation to fund and speed up climate action measures including the transition from coal, oil, and gas to cleaner energy.
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