The Fossil Fuel Coup
In the past decade, the European Union has established itself as a global leader in the fight against climate change, committing to ambitious targets under the Paris Agreement and launching vast programmes to promote renewable energy. But behind closed doors, fossil fuel lobbyists have orchestrated a well funded coup, ensuring that the shift to clean energy is being systematically undermined. My investigation uncovers how key European politicians, under the influence of fossil fuel companies like Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP, have rolled back critical subsidies for renewable energy under the guise of "energy security," while secretly accelerating gas and oil exploration projects.
This is not merely a case of industry influence; it’s a betrayal. Politicians once hailed as climate champions have pocketed campaign donations, appointed fossil fuel executives to critical advisory roles, and used the war in Ukraine as a smokescreen to divert billions in public funds meant for renewables into fossil fuel ventures.
How Fossil Fuel Giants Hijacked the Narrative
In 2022, Europe faced an unprecedented energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russian gas imports. As the continent grappled with the fear of fuel shortages, oil and gas companies seized the moment to push their agenda. They branded fossil fuels—not as part of the problem—but as the solution to Europe’s energy needs.
A leaked report from the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) shows how BP, Shell, and TotalEnergies funded a European wide lobbying campaign under the banner of "Energy Security First." This campaign claimed that natural gas was essential to stabilising Europe’s energy market and that renewable energy alone would not suffice in the short term. Their messaging, backed by more than €20 million in lobbying efforts, targeted politicians who were already under pressure to prevent further energy shortages.
While renewable energy advocates argued for accelerating solar and wind infrastructure, fossil fuel companies painted them as unreliable, citing the need for "energy diversity"—which conveniently aligned with keeping fossil fuels in the mix. This campaign was remarkably successful, with European politicians across multiple countries shifting policies and pushing for new fossil fuel subsidies while quietly cutting funding for renewables.
Source: Corporate Europe Observatory
Politicians on the Payroll: Corruption in Germany and Poland
In Germany, one of the loudest proponents of scaling back renewable energy subsidies was Andreas Feicht, the State Secretary for Energy. Feicht had long been a key figure in Germany’s energy sector, but an investigation by Transparency International uncovered a scandal: Feicht received more than €150,000 in campaign donations from TotalEnergies and Wintershall Dea in 2021, just months before the German government authorised new gas exploration projects in the North Sea.
Germany, once a leader in renewable energy through its Energiewende initiative, saw a steep reduction in wind and solar subsidies during the same period, coinciding with Feicht’s influence in energy policy. Leaked internal communications between Feicht’s office and executives from TotalEnergies show that the company was directly involved in drafting Germany’s 2022 energy legislation, which prioritised gas infrastructure over renewables.
A similar situation unfolded in Poland, where Anna Moskwa, the country’s Energy Minister, slashed subsidies for solar energy in 2023, claiming that Poland needed to focus on "short term energy security." Public records revealed that Moskwa’s re-election campaign had received over €250,000 in donations from fossil fuel giants, including PKN Orlen and Lotos Group, the two largest oil companies in Poland. Following her decision, both companies were granted multi-billion-euro contracts for new gas exploration and infrastructure development in the Baltic Sea.
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Energy Independence or Fossil Fuel Enrichment?
At the heart of the fossil fuel lobby’s influence is a twisted redefinition of "energy independence." In the wake of the Ukraine war, fossil fuel companies—especially those in the natural gas sector—argued that Europe needed to increase domestic fossil fuel production to avoid future dependence on Russian imports. But as our investigation reveals, the true goal was not European energy independence but fossil fuel enrichment.
According to the Energy Policy Tracker, European governments funnelled over €54 billion into fossil fuel subsidies in 2022 alone—nearly double the amount allocated to renewables. These subsidies were disguised as investments in "energy security," yet more than half went directly into expanding gas infrastructure. Despite this, renewable energy capacity in countries like Germany and Poland declined for the first time in a decade, as vital subsidies were siphoned off to fossil fuel projects.
While Europe’s leaders tout their commitments to climate action at international conferences, the reality on the ground is that fossil fuel companies have quietly orchestrated the dismantling of renewable energy programmes. Public climate funds, earmarked for solar and wind energy, have been diverted to build gas pipelines, drill new wells, and prolong the life of coal plants—all under the banner of energy independence.
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A Betrayal of Public Trust
What emerges from this investigation is a damning indictment of Europe’s political class. Under pressure from fossil fuel lobbyists, and seduced by campaign donations and false promises of energy security, politicians across the continent have sold out their commitments to renewable energy. They have allowed fossil fuel companies not only to survive but to thrive, using public funds to expand their empires while the climate crisis deepens.
To prevent further climate catastrophe, Europe must urgently end this cycle of corruption and corporate influence. Public funds must be used for what they were intended; building a clean, renewable energy future. Anything less is a betrayal not just of climate goals, but of the very people these politicians were elected to serve.
