THE F-LIST 2022: 230+ AD AND PR COMPANIES WORKING FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY

The report identifies over 230 advertising and PR companies that continue to work for the fossil fuel industry despite making public net-zero or sustainability commitments. It specifically examines holding companies like WPP, IPG, Dentsu, Publicis, and Omnicom, as well as the PR firm Edelman, noting that many have erased fossil fuel clients from their websites or refuse to disclose client lists. The document highlights a disconnect between internal corporate goals—such as WPP's 2030 net-zero value chain target or IPG's 2040 net-zero goal—and their continued representation of companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, and Saudi Aramco. It also details legal challenges and accusations of greenwashing linked to these partnerships, such as lawsuits against WPP's work for BP and Shell. The report concludes by calling for the advertising industry to stop supporting fossil fuel clients to avoid complicity in climate disinformation.

• Major advertising holding companies maintain a contradiction between their public climate pledges and their client portfolios. For example, WPP committed to "reach net zero in their value chain by 2030" while continuing to work for BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron.
• Several agencies have been linked to legal actions or complaints regarding the misleading nature of their climate-related campaigns for fossil fuel clients. WPP's work for BP resulted in a lawsuit for misleading the public about renewable energy investments, and its work for Chevron is the subject of a Federal Trade Commission complaint for greenwashing.
• Interpublic Group (IPG) has set targets to source 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040, yet it continues to represent clients like ExxonMobil, Aramco, Valero, Repsol, and Equinor, some of whom intend to increase fossil fuel production.
• The PR firm Edelman has been accused of "peddling climate denial" and creating astroturf campaigns. Despite a statement that it does not accept assignments aiming to deny climate change, reports indicate it was involved in an Exxon campaign in September 2021 that encouraged opposition to climate policy.

APA

Dutta, N. (2022). THE F-LIST 2022: 230+ AD AND PR COMPANIES WORKING FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY. Clean Creatives. https://cleancreatives.org/s/WEB-Update-220923-Clean-Creatives-Report-2022-final-56pg-copy.pdf

Chicago

Dutta, Nayantara. THE F-LIST 2022: 230+ AD AND PR COMPANIES WORKING FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY. Clean Creatives, 2022. https://cleancreatives.org/s/WEB-Update-220923-Clean-Creatives-Report-2022-final-56pg-copy.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dutta |first1=Nayantara |title=THE F-LIST 2022: 230+ AD AND PR COMPANIES WORKING FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY |publisher=Clean Creatives |date=September 2022 |url=https://cleancreatives.org/s/WEB-Update-220923-Clean-Creatives-Report-2022-final-56pg-copy.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dutta2022flist, author = {Dutta, Nayantara}, title = {{THE F-LIST 2022: 230+ AD AND PR COMPANIES WORKING FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY}}, institution = {Clean Creatives}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://cleancreatives.org/s/WEB-Update-220923-Clean-Creatives-Report-2022-final-56pg-copy.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }