Corporate greenwashing tactics to watch out for at COP

The document outlines several deceptive strategies used by corporations at COP to appear environmentally friendly while continuing harmful practices. It specifically critiques the promotion of natural gas and 'blue' hydrogen as low-carbon solutions, the use of 'net zero' and 'nature-based solutions' to mask continued pollution, and the use of 'green finance' and voluntary anti-deforestation pledges by banks to hide ongoing investments in fossil fuels and deforestation.

• The fossil fuel industry promotes natural gas as a 'low carbon' bridge fuel, but it remains the third most carbon-intensive method of electricity generation according to the IPCC. Existing gas investments are already sufficient to exceed 1.5°C of warming, meaning further investment hinders climate goals.
• The industry advocates for 'blue' hydrogen produced from fossil gas, which allows continued gas extraction. While hydrogen produced from renewable electricity has a limited role in the transition, the scale proposed by the fossil fuel industry is not sustainable.
• 'Net zero' pledges often rely on accounting tricks, carbon offsets, and unproven carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Oxfam estimates that the fossil fuel industry would need 500 million hectares of land—one-third of global cropland—to offset emissions by 2050, which is unavailable.
• Financial institutions use 'green finance' initiatives and voluntary anti-deforestation pledges, such as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), to distract from portfolios that continue to fund fossil fuel expansion and deforestation.
• The term 'nature-based solutions' is described as virtually meaningless due to a lack of standard definition, often used by polluters to placate public pressure without taking concrete action to cut emissions.

APA

Global Witness (n.d.). Corporate greenwashing tactics to watch out for at COP. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/corporate-greenwashing-tactics-to-watch-out-for-at-cop/

Chicago

Global Witness. Corporate greenwashing tactics to watch out for at COP. n.d. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/corporate-greenwashing-tactics-to-watch-out-for-at-cop/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Witness |title=Corporate greenwashing tactics to watch out for at COP |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/corporate-greenwashing-tactics-to-watch-out-for-at-cop/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalwitnessndcorporate, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Corporate greenwashing tactics to watch out for at COP}}, institution = {Global Witness}, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/corporate-greenwashing-tactics-to-watch-out-for-at-cop/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }