Fossil Fuel Advertising Fuels the Climate Crisis
Fossil fuel sponsorship is buying your trust
When a fossil fuel company plasters itself upon a beloved community institution - like the Nippers program - it borrows goodwill, makes the brand look safe and tells our kids that climate polluters are “part of the community”.
Woodside needs our ‘social licence’ to survive
Fossil fuel companies know that public support is key to their survival – and that losing our trust is their biggest risk. That’s why coal, oil, and gas corporations like Woodside invest millions of dollars in advertising, sponsorship, and extensive public relations. These campaigns are designed to shape public perception and ultimately, delay action on climate change.
Fossil fuel pollution kills more people than cigarette smoking
Nearly 1 in 5 deaths across the world can be linked to air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels for energy. In fact, recent research has shown that global warming specifically attributed to Woodside’s massive Scarborough gas project, will lead to an additional 484 human deaths (in Europe alone!).
Woodside is harming the oceans in which Nippers swim
It’s not only humans who will be impacted by Woodside projects - it our coastline and ocean life too. Modelling shows that the rise in temperatures from the Scarborough gas project alone, will kill 16 million corals on the Great Barrier Reef during mass bleaching events. This of course has knock on effects to other sea life, to the people who live on the coast, and the surf clubs located on the beach!
Our kids will pay the price
Not to mention the financial costs of dealing with frequent climate disasters and increasing insurances, kids health will be impacted in the future — in fact, it already is today. Climate Anxiety is a leading cause of mental health decline for young people. In fact, international reports have found that over 50 per cent of people aged 16–25 felt sad, anxious or powerless, or had other negative emotions about climate change. With this in mind, is it fair to make them wear a logo of a company directly contributing to the climate emergency?
WHo pays and Who benefits?
Parents pay for the Nippers program, while Woodside benefits
Woodside don’t pay for the Nippers - this is a myth. Parents pay their surf club $200-$300 to enrol their child in the Nippers program. It’s those same parents, plus an army of unpaid volunteers, that run the Nippers - not Woodside. The Woodside partnership with Surf Life Saving WA does not make enrolling your child in Nippers free, or even less expensive.
To make the Nippers possible - the program needs a Surf Club, kids, the ocean, volunteers, and parent-spectators - it doesn’t need Woodside.
Woodside is not funding the Nippers program. Woodside have just purchased the naming rights
The partnership agreement between Surf Life Saving WA and Woodside is commercial in confidence - however, the value of the deal was announced as $1,000,000 per year, spread across the 31 clubs. Aside from administrative expenses, this money covers;
A Woodside-branded Nippers kit for each child, which includes a high-vis vest and skull cap (essential to be worn when participating) plus a wide brimmed hat, and drawstring bag (opportunistic branding opportunities).
Each club is also provided with Woodside-branded feather flags, buoys, and other non-essential branded items.
A variable ‘Woodside Club Partnership Fee’ (a key benefit for clubs) which could be raised by local fundraising.
By associating with a trusted brand like Surf Life Saving WA, which is a deeply valued volunteer organisation, Woodside receives a boost to their image via what’s called, the halo effect. Woodside want to buy our trust, so they (literally) piggyback on our kids by advertising directly on their bodies. Partnerships like these are a comparatively low-cost way for Woodside to buy social credits. And it works! Consider the other beloved organisations Woodside carefully select to partner with - the Fremantle Dockers and the WA Museum being two obvious examples. Woodside want to bask in the halo of these brands!
What do kids get?
Our children are unfairly being turned into walking ads (all the while being groomed to believe that Woodside is a good and trustworthy brand… because the logo is on their body!).
This funding can - and should - come from other sources
In carrying out their duty of care, and with consideration to mitigating risks (ie the risk of partnering with a social harm industry, the risks that the impact of climate change poses to their clubs) the board of Surf Life Saving WA have a responsibility to seek more appropriate supporters of the Nippers program. With pressure and support from the community, this is possible.
The move away from fossil fuel partnerships is already happening
Just last year, Monash University confirmed it would end its huge $43million partnership with Woodside after sustained community pressure. If Monash Uni can Dump Woodside, so can Surf Life Saving WA. You can look at a whole list of other organisations that have made the good decision to drop fossil fuel sponsorship, here.