POLLUTING EDUCATION The Influence of Fossil Fuels on Children’s Education in Canada Report Summary

The report documents how at least 39 oil and gas companies and 12 industry-tied organizations influence Canadian K–12 education through branded materials, government partnerships, and funding of third-party nonprofits. It argues that this 'petro-pedagogy' obscures the industry's role in climate change, promotes individual action over systemic change, and creates a conflict of interest in classrooms. The authors call for immediate policy action at federal, provincial, and local levels to implement comprehensive, science-based climate education free from corporate interference.

• At least 39 oil and gas companies, 10 industry-related companies, and two industry associations are involved in funding climate, energy, and environmental education in Canada. These include all six members of the Pathways Alliance: Cenovus Energy, Suncor Energy, Imperial Oil, Canadian Natural Resources, ConocoPhillips, and MEG Energy, as well as Enbridge, TC Energy, FortisAlberta, and FortisBC.
• The fossil fuel industry employs three primary modes of influence in education: sponsoring school activities and providing branded materials, establishing partnerships with governments to develop curricula and resources, and indirectly funding third-party environmental education providers.
• Industry-supported educational materials often use 'petro-pedagogy' strategies to muddle scientific evidence. These include 'bias-balancing' (presenting industry views as equal to science), 'redwashing' (positive representations of relationships with Indigenous peoples), 'greenwashing' (exaggerating pro-environmental actions), emphasizing individual consumer choices over corporate responsibility, and promoting technological optimism over systemic transition.
• The Alberta government's 2024 curriculum framework includes expectations for students to recognize Alberta's oil reserves as having 'global significance' and the province's reputation as the 'most ethical producer of oil in the world.' This follows lobbying by the Safety in Schools Foundation, a nonprofit funded by TC Energy and Canadian Natural.
• The industry heavily utilizes third-party nonprofits to reach students. Examples include SEEDS Connections (founded by Calgary Power) and Inside Education, which reached 24,961 students in 2023. Other organizations receiving industry funding include Let’s Talk Science, Ten Peaks, Earth Rangers, Ducks Unlimited, Live It Earth, and Green Learning.
• There is a significant gap in public funding for climate education in Canada, which the fossil fuel industry has filled. Only 34% of educators feel they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to teach climate change, making them more reliant on industry-funded resources.

APA

Keary, A., & Chesnut, J. (2025). POLLUTING EDUCATION The Influence of Fossil Fuels on Children’s Education in Canada Report Summary. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Report-Summary_Polluting-Education-The-Influence-of-Fossil-Fuels-on-Childrens-Education-in-Canada.pdf

Chicago

Keary, Anne, and Jennifer Chesnut. POLLUTING EDUCATION The Influence of Fossil Fuels on Children’s Education in Canada Report Summary. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2025. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Report-Summary_Polluting-Education-The-Influence-of-Fossil-Fuels-on-Childrens-Education-in-Canada.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Keary |first1=Anne |last2=Chesnut |first2=Jennifer |title=POLLUTING EDUCATION The Influence of Fossil Fuels on Children’s Education in Canada Report Summary |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=February 2025 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Report-Summary_Polluting-Education-The-Influence-of-Fossil-Fuels-on-Childrens-Education-in-Canada.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{keary2025polluting, author = {Keary, Anne and Chesnut, Jennifer}, title = {{POLLUTING EDUCATION The Influence of Fossil Fuels on Children’s Education in Canada Report Summary}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Report-Summary_Polluting-Education-The-Influence-of-Fossil-Fuels-on-Childrens-Education-in-Canada.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }