Climate Activist Attitudes & Perspectives on Funding Tied to Fossil Fuels

So-called Canada’s economy is inextricably linked to fossil fuel extraction and colonial legacy. Often, climate activists struggle with the tension of having limited funding to support their work and accepting funding from groups that actively perpetuate the harmful systems they seek to dismantle. 

We spoke to 70 stakeholders to find out what climate activists think about accepting money from Big Oil and groups explicitly linked to fossil fuel extraction. We are excited to share with you our findings and reflections in The Youth Harbour report - Conversations with 70 stakeholders: Climate Activist Attitudes and Perspective on Funding Tied to Fossil Fuels, produced and written by FES’ Executive Director, Kat Cadungog.

This report delves into the complexities surrounding the relationship between climate organizations and fossil fuel industry funding, exploring the moral dilemmas and ethical considerations involved. By consulting with climate activists, we seek to shed light on the multifaceted issues faced by climate organizations in balancing their responsibilities to the movement with their financial sustainability.

Based on our consultations, we aimed to answer: 

• Why does the climate community refuse funding tied to fossil fuel extraction? 

• What are the justifications for accepting funding from groups implicated in oil and gas?

• In what context is it “acceptable” for a climate organization to accept funds from companies tied to fossil fuel extraction? 

This report serves as a call to engage in an open dialogue about the ethical considerations in climate advocacy, urging stakeholders to forge a path forward that preserves both environmental integrity and organizational independence.