Politics

Oil Industry Advisor Comes Out of His Shell

By Diane Farsetta

The oil company Shell -- which is heavily invested in Alberta's tar sands, an especially dirty and greenhouse gas-intensive source of oil -- has launched a blog about climate change issues. It's "the first time a major oil company has used social media to make a public policy case," reports Siobhan Hughes. Shell climate adviser David Hone authors the blog, making him "the public face of Shell's climate agenda." Hone said the blog is "about recognizing that the paradigms have shifted and we have to shift with it and therefore it's about a solution and, whether we like it or not, that solution is going to come." Shell has previously courted public opinion, including by sending then-president of U.S. operations John Hofmeister on a 50-city tour in 2006. Hofmeister said "the tour helped improve public perceptions" of Shell, "even if there were some 'dicey moments.'" The Center for Media and Democracy's Diane Farsetta cautioned that Shell's messaging has "to be put in context. ... What we need ... is a totally independent discussion" of climate change issues that is "very critical of major oil companies."

Full post as published by PR Watch on March 12, 2009 (boomark / email).