Fossil Fuel Funding in Universities Slowing Green Energy Transition: Report

A new peer-reviewed study published in WIREs Climate Change reveals that fossil fuel companies' funding of university research is impeding the transition to green energy. The study, conducted by six researchers, shows that oil and gas companies are influencing climate and energy research by funding universities, often while holding advisory or governance roles, endowing academic positions, and sponsoring scholarships. This pattern, the authors argue, compromises the academic integrity of higher education and delays critical action needed to address the climate crisis.

The study analyzed roughly 14,000 peer-reviewed articles from 2003 to 2023 on conflicts of interest and research funding across all industries. Only 14 articles addressed the role of fossil fuel companies in academia, signaling a "worrying lack of attention" to the issue. Even within this small body of research, hundreds of instances were found where oil and gas companies had funneled money into climate-focused programs at universities in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.

Delaying Climate Action

The report highlights how fossil fuel companies have guided research toward solutions that protect their interests, often promoting technologies that rely on continued use of fossil fuels, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS). BP, for example, donated between $2.1 million and $2.6 million to Princeton University's Carbon Mitigation Initiative from 2012 to 2017. Although the initiative studied decarbonization strategies, most scenarios included a significant role for fossil fuels, paired with negative emissions technologies.

In another example, a 2011 MIT Energy Initiative report endorsed natural gas as a "bridge to a low-carbon future" despite its classification as a planet-heating fossil fuel. The study's authors had financial ties to oil and gas companies, reinforcing the narrative that natural gas should play a central role in climate solutions. This view mirrored the Obama administration's "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, which supported both renewables and fossil fuels.

Undermining Public Trust and Climate Progress

The study warns that fossil fuel companies' involvement in universities poses a threat to scientific integrity by creating potential conflicts of interest. Researchers involved in the study argue that universities are becoming vehicles of climate obstruction, with fossil fuel companies using their funding to gain credibility and slow down the necessary phase-out of oil, coal, and gas.

While some universities, like MIT, have insisted that funders have no influence over the content of their reports, the authors of the study remain concerned. They argue that fossil fuel companies are using academia to whitewash their public image, while continuing to expand fossil fuel production.

Call for Transparency and Public Funding

One of the study's co-authors, Emily Eaton, successfully sued her university in Canada to disclose its fossil fuel funders, highlighting the lack of transparency in how much money is flowing from oil and gas companies to academic institutions. A 2023 report from Data for Progress estimated that at least $700 million was donated by fossil fuel companies to 27 U.S. universities over the past decade, though this is believed to be an undercount due to limited data.

The authors of the study are calling for more public funding for universities to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel industry donations. They argue that increased public funding would enable universities to conduct independent research that serves the public interest and accelerates the green energy transition.

Growing Movement for Divestment

The report comes amid growing pressure on universities to sever ties with fossil fuel companies. Student organizations like Campus Climate Network are advocating for universities to dissociate from the fossil fuel industry, arguing that its influence is obstructing necessary climate action.

"This literature review confirms what students in our movement have known for years," said Jake Lowe, executive director of Campus Climate Network. "Big oil has infiltrated academia in order to gain undue credibility and obstruct climate action."

The report adds to a growing body of evidence that the fossil fuel industry's presence in higher education may be delaying the adoption of policies that could help address the climate crisis more effectively. Governments, scholars, and activists are now urging academic institutions to distance themselves from fossil fuel interests and prioritize research that advances renewable energy and sustainable solutions.