Sixty-five leading climate influencers and creators have signed
an open letter organized by advocacy group Clean Creatives calling for the UN and Brazilian Government to drop Edelman as the PR agency for the UN climate change
conference known as COP30.
The conference started Nov. 10 and runs through Nov. 21 in Belem, Brazil.
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The letter cites conflicts of interest
between Edelman’s fossil fuel clients (Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and others) and its role in promoting the global climate talks.
“We
strongly believe Edelman is the wrong choice to support COP30,” the letter states. “We call on UN leaders and the Brazilian government to act to protect information integrity on climate
change, and ensure the public receives accurate, positive updates from the climate talks, untainted by oil industry influence. If Edelman doesn’t drop fossil fuels, Brazil should
drop Edelman.”
The letter follows Clean Creatives’ latest F-List 2025 findings that Edelman
has the highest fossil-fuel income risk in the industry, and that an Edelman executive in Brazil is overseeing communications for both COP30 and Shell simultaneously.
Duncan Meisel, executive
director of Clean Creatives, said it is “absurd and dangerous to have the same person writing talking points for Shell and the UN climate talks at the same time.”
“Edelman
working for both COP30 and Shell is greenwashing at its worst,” stated climate activist Lauren Bash, one of the signers of the open letter. “You can’t claim to
unite the world to fight climate change while representing the corporations fueling it. It’s dishonest and it breeds confusion at a time when we need clarity, courage, and
real action.”
According to Clean Creatives the influencers signing the letter have more than 24 million followers. In addition to Bash, they
include Clover Hogan, Joycelyn Longdon, Mikaela Loach, Tori Tsui and more.
Edelman responded with a statement:
“We believe climate change is one of the greatest crises of our time, requiring bold solutions, collaboration, and innovation. Edelman
is committed to being part of the change by working with diverse clients, including governments and energy companies, who have a vital role
to play in the energy transition. We continue to abide by our climate principles in the work that we do.”
The company also asserted that the letter’s claim that an Edelman leader in Brazil is personally overseeing communications for both COP30 and Shell is inaccurate.
This story has been updated with a response from Edelman.