Climate activists have strongly criticised the CEO of Shell, Wael Sawan, for his “cynical” remarks suggesting that reducing global oil and gas production would be dangerous and irresponsible. Sawan argued that such reductions would exacerbate the cost of living crisis, restrict global energy supplies, and drive up bills.
He also claimed that poorer nations would suffer from a gas shortage if they couldn’t compete in the global market. These comments, defending continued oil and gas production, contradict the urgent need to address climate change and have raised concerns about Shell’s shift towards prioritizing fossil fuels and increasing payouts to shareholders under Sawan’s leadership.
Campaigners, such as Jamie Peters from Friends of the Earth and Alice Harrison from Global Witness, accused Shell of fueling the climate crisis and profiting at the expense of ordinary people and the environment. Sawan’s stance also contradicts scientific consensus, as ongoing fossil fuel production is widely recognized as a key driver of catastrophic climate change.
The International Energy Agency has emphasised that new fossil fuel projects must be halted to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. Experts argue that the choice between fossil fuels and candlelight is a misrepresentation of reality, given the cleaner, cheaper, and healthier alternatives offered by renewable energy sources.
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