British Cycling has faced backlash from environmentalists after signing a long-term partnership with oil giant Shell.
The agreement, which starts this month and runs to the end of 2030, will see Shell support Great Britain’s cyclists and para-cyclists through the sharing of world-class innovation and expertise and help more people ride; accelerating British Cycling’s path to net zero.
“We’re looking forward to working alongside Shell UK over the rest of this decade to widen access to the sport, support our elite riders and help our organisation and sport take important steps towards net zero – things we know our members are incredibly passionate about,” said British Cycling’s chief executive, Brian Facer.
“Within our new commercial programme, this partnership with Shell UK brings powerful support for cycling, will help us to improve and will make more people consider cycling and cyclists.”
However, the announcement was condemned, amongst others, by Greenpeace, arguing Shell and British Cycling were guilty of greenwashing. “The idea of Shell helping British Cycling reach net zero is as absurd as beef farmers advising lettuce farmers on how to go vegan,” said Greenpeace UK policy director, Dr Doug Parr.
“After being booted out of museums and other cultural institutions, Big Oil is looking at sports as the next frontier for their brazen greenwash. But their aim hasn’t changed – to distract from the inconvenient fact that the fossil fuel industry is making our planet uninhabitable.”
Similarly, Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Jamie Peters questioned why the eight-year deal had been struck at all. “Cycling is the epitome of environmentally friendly travel,” he said. “It’s deeply disappointing that UK Cycling could think it’s appropriate to partner with a fossil fuel giant. Shell is continuing to invest billions in oil and gas projects, while using cynical PR initiatives like this partnership to attempt to greenwash its harmful activities.
“Tobacco firms are rightly banned from sports sponsorship due to the damaging health effects. The same should apply to oil and gas companies which are devastating the health of our planet. Shell should have been told to get on its bike.”
The oil giant has targeted to reduce emissions to net-zero by 2050, as well as plans to increase spending on renewable energy to 25% of its total spending by 2025.
Shell also recently announced that it will be replacing its current CEO, Ben van Beurden, with its head of gas and renewables, Wael Sawan.
Through the new partnership, Shell will also support British Cycling through steps such as helping British Cycling’s transition to an electric-vehicle fleet.
