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SPORTSWASHING

Aussie fossil fuel industry using sports to greenwash public image

By our News Team | 2022

Researchers at Australian university identify 51 partnerships between sports organisations and coal, gas and oil brands in the country.

Coal, gas and oil companies spend US$9-12-million a year greenwashing their public image by sponsoring sports in Australia, a new report claims.

‘Out of bounds: Coal, gas and oil sponsorship of Australian sports’, prepared by Swinburne University of Technology for the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), is claimed to be the first research to quantify the number and value of fossil fuel sponsorships in Australian sports.

Sportswashing

Image by 0fjd125gk87 from Pixabay

The research has identified 51 partnerships between sports teams or sports bodies and coal, gas and oil brands in the country.

The report finds:

  • Many fossil fuel sponsorship deals include high-value naming rights agreements, meaning the sponsor’s name is often displayed on team uniforms or stadiums.
  • Oil and gas mining companies tend to sponsor Australian Rules football (known as AFL), rugby union and rugby league.
  • On the other hand, fossil fuel retailers favour partnerships with cricket, soccer and netball.

“The heavily-polluting fossil fuel industry is greenwashing its public image by exploiting people’s love of Australian sports,” said ACF’s Campaigns Director, Paul Sinclair. “Sports is great for our health. Fossil fuels are not.”

“This weekend (29-30 October), an Australian national sporting team will represent our country on the international stage wearing a jersey emblazoned with a fossil fuel company’s name, when the ‘Santos’ Wallabies [rugby union team] play Scotland in Edinburgh.

Sport sanitises the image of big climate polluters

“When we see the Santos Wallabies or Woodside Fremantle Dockers [AFL club team] on TV, it has the effect of sanitising their role and image as big climate polluters.”

According to the Australian Conservation Foundation, sports should use its power to help solve the climate crisis, not accept money from big climate-polluting corporations.

“No matter where coal and gas is burnt, it’s damaging amazing natural places like the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef [off the coast of Western Australia],” Sinclair said.

“Climate change is also affecting the sports we love, especially at a grassroots level. Australians can’t play sports when grounds go under water during unprecedent flooding, or when the air is filled with bushfire smoke.”

Professor Emma Sherry of the Swinburne University of Technology specialises in sports development and is the lead author on the report.

“Sports organisations have a history of moving away from corporate sponsors with growing public awareness of their harms – as they have done around tobacco, alcohol and gambling,” she said.

“While we have seen some sports teams move away from coal, oil and gas sponsorship, most have simply focused on climate campaigns and environmental sustainability initiatives rather than more direct actions.”

She believes that, in coming years, these sponsorships could be replaced by less harmful options.

The full report can be downloaded here.

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Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.