Toxic fuels campaign
When we should be doing everything we can to tackle climate change and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, companies are investing in extracting oil from sand, with devastating consequences for the environment.
WWF, in partnership with The Co-operative Bank, Insurance and Investments, is campaigning against these toxic fuels.
Latest news from the campaign
- Pensions, carbon and (oil) pipe dreams…
- 28/07/10
- Every month a chunk of money whizzes out of my pay packet and away to be invested in some magical fund that means when I'm 65 I can retire to spend my days sipping cocktails and wandering up mountains. How lovely. I don’t have to think about it, it just happens. Most of us are like that. Pensions are dull. Pensions are for later. I do it because I know I should, but that’s about it. Or is it… read more about 'Pensions, carbon and (oil) pipe dreams…'
- Posted by Colin Butfield on 28/07/10 9:30 AM
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- Mind the gulf – from oil-bound past to low-carbon future
- 18/06/10
- The Gulf of Mexico oil spill affects us all, whether we realise it or not. As well as being an environmental disaster for the immediate gulf area, there are serious implications for the wider world. And it affects many of WWF’s own campaigns, in ways you might not have expected... read more about 'Mind the gulf – from oil-bound past to low-carbon future'
- Posted by Colin Butfield, head of campaigns on 18/06/10 12:00 AM
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- Obama? BP? What’s the real threat to our pensions?
- 14/06/10
- Is President Obama’s language really the biggest threat to UK pension holders? I don’t think so… read more about 'Obama? BP? What’s the real threat to our pensions?'
- Posted by Colin Butfield on 14/06/10 12:00 AM
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- Time to kick the oil habit!
- 01/06/10
- To put it mildly, it’s an interesting time for the oil industry. The tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico looks worse by the day. The US has halted exploratory oil drilling in Alaskan waters until at least 2011. And at the Exxon AGM, 26% of shareholders who voted on a tar sands resolution voted against the board’s wishes. read more about 'Time to kick the oil habit!'
- Posted by Anthony Field on 01/06/10 10:00 AM
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- Shell AGM
- 19/05/10
- At Shell’s AGM on 18 May, 11% of shareholders who voted on the tar sands resolution chose not to back the management, either by supporting the resolution or abstaining from voting – traditionally a way of showing concern on an issue. read more about 'Shell AGM'
- Posted by Anthony Field on 19/05/10 12:00 AM
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- Personal financial risk
- 11/05/10
- The tar sands are extracted in Alberta and the majority of it is then piped to refineries in America to turn into petrol and diesel. Its main use is for the American transport sector – putting petrol in cars and trucks. Canada has now overtaken Saudi Arabia as the largest exporter of oil to America. But it is likely some of the refined diesel has been imported into Europe and this flow could increase, according to a Greenpeace report. read more about 'Personal financial risk'
- Posted by Anthony Field on 11/05/10 12:00 AM
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- BP pressured into toxic fuels admission by shareholder resolution
- 28/04/10
- BP’s AGM has just finished. We were there to get support for a shareholder resolution asking for a report on the full set of risks associated with tar sands development. And how’s this for a wake up call…? Nearly one in six BP shareholders who voted on the oil giant’s latest resolution on tar sands withheld their support from BP’s management. read more about 'BP pressured into toxic fuels admission by shareholder resolution'
- Posted by Anthony Field on 28/04/10 10:00 AM
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- Counting the Cost
- 04/04/10
- FairPensions launched its new campaign surrounding Shell’s and BP’s activities in the exploitation of Canadian oil sands. Focused on the two companies Annual General Meetings (AGMs) they have tabled a shareholder resolution at each one asking for a review of the risks associated with tar sands developments. read more about 'Counting the Cost'
- Posted by Anthony Field on 04/04/10 12:00 AM
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- Tar sands billions could be better spent
- 15/03/10
- The $379 billion that is the estimated investment in tar sands, between now and 2025, will push us closer to climate disaster. This report looks at the alternative key global challenges that could be funded by this investment. read more about 'Tar sands billions could be better spent'
- Posted by Anthony Field on 15/03/10 1:00 PM
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- UK premiere of Dirty Oil
- 18/02/10
- Join us on Monday 15 March for the UK premiere of the much anticipated film Dirty Oil. It’s a powerful documentary about the devastating impact of tar sands developments on the environment and local communities in Alberta, Canada – and the implications for the world as a whole. read more about 'UK premiere of Dirty Oil'
- Posted by Anthony Field on 18/02/10 10:00 AM
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Don't support the tar sands
Use the power of your pension to force a review of this damaging and risky activity
Read Co-op's Colin Baines's tar sands diary
In autumn 2009, Colin Baines, from The Co-operative Financial Services, led a press trip to the Albertan tar sands in Canada, to see first-hand the environmental impacts, and hear about the consequences for indigenous communities, local wildlife.
Read our research on tar sands and unconventional oil production
Environmentally, oil sands are one of the worst forms of energy. Read about our joint report with The Co-operative Bank that highlights how their development is taking the world in the wrong direction.
Campaign launch - watch the film
The Toxic Fuels campaign was launched in February 2009. WWF-UK and The Co-operative Bank, Insurance and Investments were outside the Canadian Embassy in London to protest at the continued expansion of the destructive projects that exploit Albertan tar sands. We were joined by delegates from the Canadian Beaver Lake Cree who supported our call.
Campaigning in partnership with:
Use the power of your pension to force a review of this damaging and risky activity
Discover Canada's devastating oil sands
Canada's oil sands developments are so large that they can be seen from space. See how they are devastating the natural environment and damaging the local community.
See the devastating effect of Canada's oil sands in our picture slideshow
Latest report
Toxic fuels: toxic investments
The future profits of oil companies like BP and Shell will be hit by tighter regulation and increased carbon emissions taxes. This report from WWF and the Co-operative Bank, Insurance and Investments shows how this could cost oil companies tens of billions of pounds – and how it's essential that carbon pollution by carbon-intensive companies is reported in detail so that investment risks can be managed.