One might not associate “ public media ” with “ carry water for the oil and gas industry , ” but it ’s 2022 , and anything can happen . On Wednesday , Houston Public Radio , which encompasses the city ’s NPR affiliate as well as its public broadcasting web , unveil a serial publication it produced with rock oil heavyweight Chevron on the vigour transition — and , if the first episode is any indicant , it ’s go to be filled with nothing but fossil fuel propaganda .
The 10 - partseries , ironically called CounterACT , will explore how “ the get-up-and-go sector is working towards a low carbon future , ” as well as “ ways the push sphere can direct the climate crisis . ” Since our tale published Thursday , Houston Public Media has deleted the series page . you’re able to still see the websitecachedon Google , and the sequence is stillavailable on YouTube .
The phrase “ crushed carbon ” is a mostly shit full term made up by the fossil fuel industry , meant to distract from their continued befoulment as well as the fact that we need to reach a zero carbon future , and before long . The manufacture has applied this phrase to many of the problematic “ solutions ” it ’s currently pushing , likeblue hydrogenandcarbon seizure , that both continue to trust on fossil fuel and do not reliably eliminate emissions . ( Last twelvemonth , rock oil major Occidental announced it would produce “ carbon copy - electroneutral vegetable oil , ” which is just oil with a fortune of offsets attached — technically low - carbon than a regular barrel of oil , but not exactly what ’s going to fix the climate crisis . )
Houston, we have a problem.Screenshot: Houston Public Media
The firstepisodeof the CounterACT serial , posted Wednesday morning , is an interview with three talking heads — include Chevron ’s director of “ New Energies”—that sharpen on Houston ’s report as the “ vim capital of the humankind ” and the ways in which the region could be primed to contribute to the muscularity transition . While the video begins with an acknowledgement that the science on mood change “ is something that has been settled for quite a long time , ” there is no citation of how the oil and gas that Chevron bring forth directly contributes to climate change . Nor is there any reference to how lead scientists and vitality enquiry institute have state that new fossil fuel geographic expedition involve to becompletely phase out this class , and emissions topeak by 2025 , so as to debar the worst impacts of climate modification .
The television and accompanyingwebsitefor the serial publication is listed under the Houston Public Media ’s “ Programs and Podcasts ” pill on its internet site , which include other partnership serial with society and organizations likeUnited Wayandmajor infirmary system . The web site provide curious reviewer with a “ Resources ” tab that provides on the nose two links—“Energy Transition ” and “ Lower Carbon”—both of which go instantly to page on Chevron ’s website . While Chevron ’s logotype is displayed conspicuously on the nontextual matter for the page , no information about funding is provided , nor any information on the reporting or fact - tally process for the series .
We sent several query about the series ’s reporting procedure and financial backing to Houston Public Media and will update this article if they respond . After receive criticism from reporter on Twitter , the tweet from Houston Public Media promoting the Chevron partnership wasdeletedWednesday . Grid News reporter Dave Levitanposted on TwitterWednesday afternoon that a reference informed him that “ employees at Houston Public Media received an email from management today instructing them not to engage with literary criticism of HPM , and that responses should only come from upper management . ” As of Friday morning , Chevron had alsodeleted its tweetpromoting the serial .
A quick skim of cyberspace history designate that the ship’s company has in public defend Houston Public Media in various fundraising speculation throughout the yr , includingdonating petrol cardsfor raffles , sendingemployee volunteersto fundraising drive , andmatchingfinancialgifts . It ’s one thing for a local economical powerhouse , like Chevron is in Houston , to support the public radio place . But a news show governance get together up with defiler to push their specific greenwashing subject matter — include some that deliberately distort the science on what ’s actually needed in the energy passage — is another matter entirely . Looks like Chevron ’s “ newsroom ” is hard at work .
Update 4/22/22 8:23 A.M. ET : This floor has been update with new information on the serial ’s page deletion .
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