Fossil fuel companies say that they want to be on the front lines of renewable energy, with advertisements, social media and even their own shareholder corporate reports espousing their commitment to green energy and combating climate change. However, Northeastern University researchers say otherwise.
In two studies, published in 2023 and 2026, researchers identified a concerted effort across multiple multinational fossil fuel companies to, with one hand, gesture toward the benefits of renewable energy sources like solar power while, with the other hand, position natural gas — a fossil fuel that is likely responsible for 30-40% of both methane and carbon dioxide emissions in the United States — as a viable alternative to renewables.
