Let’s say you work to help people who are suffering because of climate change. Would you then enter into a partnership with a company that deals in oil and gas? This question has been asked by both the management of the Red Cross, employees and several organisations. They have landed on different answers. We would like to hear what you think, but first you have to familiarize yourself with the matter. Oil and gas are fossil fuels. Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB A partnership This autumn, the Red Cross published a message on its own website where they wrote that the organization has signed a long-term partnership agreement with Equinor. It is the largest main partner agreement the Red Cross has entered into. From 2023 to 2026, Equinor will support the Red Cross with NOK 20 million a year. In addition, they will collaborate on skills development, and Equinor employees will have the opportunity to contribute as volunteers. The decision is controversial. In the Red Cross, there are different opinions about the new partnership. Photo: NTB Oil and emergency aid The partnership caused great concern among several employees of the Red Cross. 40 people in the organization chose to send a letter of concern to the management in which they said they disagreed with the decision. – If we are going to shout out about the climate crisis and try to help millions of people who are affected by climate change, we cannot at the same time have a partnership with Equinor, the letter said. They pointed out that there is no doubt that fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases are behind the global warming that is already taking its toll. The fact that Equinor is a company whose main income comes from oil and gas therefore spoke against a partnership. Employees of the Red Cross wrote in the letter that they are proud to work in an organization that has worked actively to stop climate change. Now they cannot understand that the management team believes that the partnership with Equinor is in line with the organisation’s aim not to enter into “cooperation with and/or receive donations from companies that risk opposing our goals.” Protesters in London. They are protesting against Equinor’s development of the Rosebank oil field outside Shetland. Photo: Gerhard Mey / Reuters The Red Cross itself has said that climate change is the biggest health threat the world faces and if the current level of emissions is maintained, twice as many people will need emergency aid due to climate-related disasters by 2050. The employees who signed the letter believe now that the organization will undermine the possibility of being a credible mouthpiece for people in vulnerable situations. 99.6 percent fossil Several organizations also reacted negatively to the partnership agreement and asked for a meeting. – We were surprised that the Red Cross entered into a partnership with an oil and gas company as Equinor’s core business is one of the biggest reasons why more and more people need urgent emergency assistance. That’s according to Karoline Andaur, secretary general of the WWF World Wildlife Fund. Karoline Andaur is secretary general of WWF. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB Andaur points out that Equinor’s energy production consists of more than 99 percent oil and gas and believes that they do not have a credible plan for restructuring in line with the Paris Agreement. Secure income and the humanitarian work The management of the Red Cross had a different view on the matter and was well satisfied with the signing. Communications Director Øistein Mjærum pointed out that the decision had the full support of the organisation’s National Board and that the partnership would strengthen the ability to detect, prevent and alleviate distress. Øistein Mjærum is communications director at the Red Cross. Photo: Red Cross / Red Cross – This is the largest main partner agreement the Red Cross has entered into and will contribute significantly to strengthening our humanitarian work and also ensures a predictable and long-term source of income for our work. Have you experienced this as a dilemma? How have you weighted different considerations? – It is clear from the Red Cross’s regulations that Equinor belongs to an industry we must be particularly careful with, but not rule out. Mjærum explains that a thorough due diligence assessment was therefore carried out before the decision was made. – The conclusion was that Equinor is among the best in the industry and that Equinor must also contribute as part of the solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He specifies that the Red Cross must continue, with undiminished strength, to work to reduce emissions, prevent and limit distress and suffering as a result of climate change. 2023 was the warmest year on record. This image shows the dried up Canelon Grande reservoir in Uruguay. Photo: Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP The communications director points out that the state is today the largest recipient of income from oil and gas extraction and that the Red Cross also receives a lot of money through the state budget. – So even without the support from Equinor, it is the case that a large part of the work is financed through the income from oil and gas extraction on the Norwegian continental shelf. Employees do not understand how the partnership is in line with the guidelines? Mjærum says that it is about balancing different considerations in order to fulfill the mandate and contribute to the best possible humanitarian effect. – In some cases, there will be different opinions among employees about which measures are right to achieve our goals. According to Mjærum, the partnership is in line with their guidelines. The director of communications points out that they have taken as a starting point the Norwegian Pension Fund’s (SPU) guidelines for observing and excluding companies. The Red Cross works to ensure that emergency aid must be climate-friendly. To what extent will you facilitate Equinor’s climate footprint? Mjærum says that the Red Cross works to reduce the climate footprint of its own work, but that they will only answer for their own climate footprint. Equinor must answer for its part. He nevertheless points out that it has been crucial for the management that Equinor supports the Paris Agreement, in addition to the company’s stated ambition to be a leading company in the green shift. Equinor’s offshore wind farm off Scotland. Photo: Øyvinf Gravås / Equinor Transition takes time Press contact at Equinor, Magnus Frantzen Eidsvold, says it is a shame if the Red Cross experiences negative reactions due to support from Equinor. – The world needs energy, but at the same time we must cut emissions. We can agree that it is going too slowly. At the same time, it is important that the transition is done in a balanced way so that we both ensure access to energy and reduce emissions. In 2018, the company changed its name from Statoil to Equinor, the reason being that the company developed to a greater extent within other types of energy. Photo: NTB He says that their climate ambitions are firm. – Since 2015, we have reduced emissions from self-operated fields by 30% with an ambition of 50% by 2030. In addition, we are accelerating our renewable activity and developing large-scale value chains for carbon capture and storage. Eidsvold says that until 2023 they have invested around NOK 95 billion in renewable and low-carbon solutions, but that change takes time. Equinor has previously made individual donations to the Red Cross. Thanks for reading this far. Now we would like to hear your opinion. What are your thoughts on the partnership between Equinor and the Red Cross? Highly problematic Something is jarring It’s fine It’s completely unproblematic I don’t mind Show result
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Dissatisfied with the partnership between Equinor and the Red Cross – news – Klima
