Issue: Natural Gas

As a climate advocate in 2026, it can be hard to see climate change as a top issue when there are so many crises competing for our attention. However, as the news cycle pushes out headlines highlighting just how much profit the fossil fuel industry is making from the conflict and instability in the Middle East, I’ve been thinking: if we transform our energy systems to be locally-controlled and sustainable, what could the ripple effects be for global peace and justice?

Clean Creatives has decoded the narrative shifts in fossil fuel campaigns between 2020 and 2024, detailing how narrative strategy in oil and gas companies’ advertising and PR campaigns has shifted. Their evidence documents how, between 2020 and 2024, oil and gas campaigns shifted from setting climate targets and saying “we’re part of the solution” to emphasizing fossil fuel dependence and convincing people “you can’t live without us.” In parallel, we saw shareholders follow suit and move from supporting climate action to prioritizing fossil fuel profitability. Oil majors have always been preoccupied with social license, but now, the fossil fuel industry is radicalizing. Companies like BP and Shell, which have a history of greenwashing and made net zero pledges in 2020. Now they are going all in on fossil fuels. They’re advertising false solutions like CCS, natural gas and biofuels, which increase fossil fuel dependence. Greenwashing is no longer the core strategy of the fossil fuel industry — it’s about power and political influence.

To support grid reliability and affordability communications in the Iran war or broader
geopolitical context, the Reliable Grid Project (RGP) offers messaging research,
resources, and guidance.

Extreme weather events like winter storm Fern offer a short window of opportunity when people are seeking information related to climate change. But while most Americans believe we are experiencing more extreme weather, many still don’t see it as driven by climate change. Climate communicators need to help people connect the dots.

Recommendations on how to talk about community power, including the opportunity because voters are fed up with skyrocketing bills and. for-profit utility greed and want solution, and a recommended message that “community power” is cheaper, faster, more efficient.