IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v212y2025ics1364032125000322.html

Orchestrating the narrative: The role of fossil fuel companies in delaying the energy transition

Author

Listed:
  • Gentile, Giuliana
  • Gupta, Joyeeta

Abstract

The scientific community has long identified the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels. Yet, fossil fuel companies have managed to avoid accountability by orchestrating the narrative associated to their public image. This paper therefore addresses the question: How has the narrative of fossil fuel companies evolved within the context of the climate crisis? Based on the notion of petroculture, which refers to the inextricable ties between fossil fuels and societies, through an extensive literature review and the analysis of Shell's sustainability reports, this paper identifies the evolving discursive strategies adopted by fossil fuel companies, contextualizing them over time. These strategies have been categorized into Pre-shift strategies, initially founded on explicit climate denial (Spreading Doubt, Questioning Science, Lobbying and Revolving Doors); and Post-shift strategies: subtle – but effective – forms of climate delay through the readaptation of Lobbying and Revolving Doors, the conviction of fossil fuels as irreplaceable (Necessitarianism), the adoption of a green facade (Greenwashing), blame placement towards their consumers (Strategic Blame Placement), and unconditional faith in technologies (Techno-optimism). This research provides the translation key necessary to recognize misleading behavior, allowing the reader to understand the underlying motivations behind fossil fuels companies' climate claims, and providing evidence to enable the energy transition to move forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Gentile, Giuliana & Gupta, Joyeeta, 2025. "Orchestrating the narrative: The role of fossil fuel companies in delaying the energy transition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:212:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125000322
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115359
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125000322
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115359?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paasha Mahdavi & Jessica Green & Jennifer Hadden & Thomas Hale, 2022. "Using Earnings Calls to Understand the Political Behavior of Major Polluters," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 22(1), pages 159-174, Winter.
    2. Christophe McGlade & Paul Ekins, 2015. "The geographical distribution of fossil fuels unused when limiting global warming to 2 °C," Nature, Nature, vol. 517(7533), pages 187-190, January.
    3. Alexander Michael Petersen & Emmanuel M. Vincent & Anthony LeRoy Westerling, 2019. "Author Correction: Discrepancy in scientific authority and media visibility of climate change scientists and contrarians," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-1, December.
    4. Alexander Michael Petersen & Emmanuel M. Vincent & Anthony LeRoy Westerling, 2019. "Discrepancy in scientific authority and media visibility of climate change scientists and contrarians," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Sofia Ribeiro & Viriato Soromenho-Marques, 2022. "The Techno-Optimists of Climate Change: Science Communication or Technowashing?," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-11, April.
    6. Trencher, Gregory & Healy, Noel & Hasegawa, Koichi & Asuka, Jusen, 2019. "Discursive resistance to phasing out coal-fired electricity: Narratives in Japan's coal regime," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 782-796.
    7. Mei Li & Gregory Trencher & Jusen Asuka, 2022. "The clean energy claims of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell: A mismatch between discourse, actions and investments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-27, February.
    8. Joyeeta Gupta & Yang Chen & David I. Armstrong Mckay & Paola Fezzigna & Giuliana Gentile & Aljoscha Karg & Luc Vliet & Steven J. Lade & Lisa Jacobson, 2024. "Applying earth system justice to phase out fossil fuels: learning from the injustice of adopting 1.5 °C over 1 °C," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 233-255, March.
    9. Joe Lane & Chris Greig & Andrew Garnett, 2021. "Uncertain storage prospects create a conundrum for carbon capture and storage ambitions," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(11), pages 925-936, November.
    10. Peter Linquiti & Nathan Cogswell, 2016. "The Carbon Ask: effects of climate policy on the value of fossil fuel resources and the implications for technological innovation," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(4), pages 662-676, December.
    11. Joseph E. Stiglitz, 2002. "Information and the Change in the Paradigm in Economics," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(3), pages 460-501, June.
    12. Kerschner, Christian & Ehlers, Melf-Hinrich, 2016. "A framework of attitudes towards technology in theory and practice," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 139-151.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lukas Folkens & Petra Schneider, 2022. "Responsible Carbon Resource Management through Input-Oriented Cap and Trade (IOCT)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Louis Daumas, 2024. "Financial stability, stranded assets and the low‐carbon transition – A critical review of the theoretical and applied literatures," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(3), pages 601-716, July.
    3. Andrés Navarro & Francisco J. Tapiador, 2023. "Twitch as a privileged locus to analyze young people’s attitudes in the climate change debate: a quantitative analysis," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Beatrice Negro & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2025. "More Hype than Hope. Hydrogen Policy, Projects and Environmental Conflicts," LEM Papers Series 2025/28, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    5. Tobia Spampatti & Ulf J. J. Hahnel & Evelina Trutnevyte & Tobias Brosch, 2024. "Psychological inoculation strategies to fight climate disinformation across 12 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(2), pages 380-398, February.
    6. Seppelfricke, Thomas, 2021. "Wie können naturkundliche Einrichtungen durch ihre Marketingkommunikation zu klimafreundlichem Verhalten aktivieren?," PraxisWissen - German Journal of Marketing, AfM – Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Marketing, vol. 6(01/2021), pages 109-117.
    7. Hansen, T.A., 2022. "Stranded assets and reduced profits: Analyzing the economic underpinnings of the fossil fuel industry's resistance to climate stabilization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    8. Maria Mercanti-Guérin, 2021. "La viralité d'un contenu est-elle climato-sceptique ? Une illustration par les bulles de filtre," Post-Print hal-03409225, HAL.
    9. Rempel, Arthur & Gupta, Joyeeta, 2021. "Fossil fuels, stranded assets and COVID-19: Imagining an inclusive & transformative recovery," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    10. M. Carmen Erviti & Mónica Codina & Bienvenido León, 2020. "Pro-Science, Anti-Science and Neutral Science in Online Videos on Climate Change, Vaccines and Nanotechnology," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(2), pages 329-338.
    11. Joaquín Bernal-Ramírez & Jair Ojeda-Joya & Camila Agudelo-Rivera & Felipe Clavijo-Ramírez & Carolina Durana-Ángel & Clark Granger-Castaño & Daniel Osorio-Rodríguez & Daniel Parra-Amado & José Pulido &, 2022. "Impacto macroeconómico del cambio climático en Colombia," Revista ESPE - Ensayos sobre Política Económica, Banco de la Republica de Colombia, issue 102, pages 1-62, July.
    12. Locatelli, Catherine & Rossiaud, Sylvain, 2011. "A neoinstitutionalist interpretation of the changes in the Russian oil model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 5588-5597, September.
    13. Waldemar Karpa & Antonio Grginović, 2021. "(Not So) Stranded: The Case of Coal in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
    14. Hellsmark, Hans & Hansen, Teis, 2020. "A new dawn for (oil) incumbents within the bioeconomy? Trade-offs and lessons for policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    15. Vasiliki Tzelepi & Myrto Zeneli & Dimitrios-Sotirios Kourkoumpas & Emmanouil Karampinis & Antonios Gypakis & Nikos Nikolopoulos & Panagiotis Grammelis, 2020. "Biomass Availability in Europe as an Alternative Fuel for Full Conversion of Lignite Power Plants: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-26, July.
    16. Thore, Sten, 2022. "Sustainable development goal deficits and the Covid 19 pandemic," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    17. Bretschger, Lucas, 2021. "Getting the Costs of Environmental Protection Right: Why Climate Policy Is Inexpensive in the End," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    18. Anna Fielder & Riina Vuorikari & Nuria Rodriguez-Priego & Yves Punie, 2016. "Background Review for Developing the Digital Competence Framework for Consumers: A snapshot of hot-button issues and recent literature," JRC Research Reports JRC103332, Joint Research Centre.
    19. Yusifzada, Tural, 2022. "Response of Inflation to the Climate Stress: Evidence from Azerbaijan," MPRA Paper 116522, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 20 Sep 2022.
    20. Gustav Engström & Johan Gars, 2016. "Climatic Tipping Points and Optimal Fossil-Fuel Use," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 65(3), pages 541-571, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:212:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125000322. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.