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

This executive summary, published by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and For Our Kids, investigates the influence of the oil and gas industry on K–12 climate and environmental education in Canada. The authors argue that fossil fuel companies use 'petro-pedagogy' to obscure their role in driving climate change, normalize fossil fuel use, and delay climate action by filling government funding gaps in education.

• At least 39 oil and gas companies, 10 industry-related companies, and two industry associations are influencing climate, energy, and environmental education in Canada. This includes 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 schools: sponsoring school activities and providing branded materials, partnering with governments to develop curricula and resources, and indirectly funding third-party environmental education providers.
• Industry-supported educational materials often muddle scientific evidence regarding the causes of climate change and fail to address the necessity of transitioning away from fossil fuels. These materials frequently present climate concerns as a 'perspective' to be balanced against industry arguments and emphasize individual consumer choices over corporate responsibility.
• The report identifies 'petro-pedagogy' as a set of strategies used to insulate the industry from criticism. These include 'bias-balancing' (presenting industry views as equal to science), 'redwashing' (positive representations of relationships with Indigenous peoples), 'greenwashing' (exaggerating pro-environmental actions), focusing on individual rather than collective action, and promoting 'technological optimism' over systemic change.
• In Alberta, the government published a 2024 curriculum framework that appears to have industry involvement, including an expectation that students recognize Alberta's reputation as the 'most ethical producer of oil in the world.' Additionally, the Safety in Schools Foundation, funded by TC Energy and Canadian Natural, has lobbied to include 'oil and gas studies' in the Alberta curriculum.
• The industry utilizes third-party nonprofits to exert influence. Some are founded and funded by industry, such as SEEDS Connections and Inside Education; others have industry representatives on their boards, such as Let’s Talk Science and Ten Peaks. These organizations can operate on a larger scale than non-industry nonprofits, giving them an 'outsize influence.'
• The report highlights a critical gap in public funding for climate education in Canada, which has been filled by fossil fuel industry funding. This allows the industry to shape public opinion and delay climate action. Only 34% of educators feel they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to teach climate change.

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} }