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Fossil Fuels: Sport's Controversial New Sponsor?
24 Sep
Summary
- Fossil fuel companies sponsor sports teams to build public goodwill.
- Woodside claims sustainability alongside Fremantle Dockers sponsorship.
- Climate change increasingly threatens sports' natural environments.
Fossil fuel companies are investing in sports sponsorships, seeking to build a reservoir of public goodwill. Companies such as Woodside aim to leverage the emotional loyalty of sports fans to foster a positive brand image. This strategy is particularly relevant for industries with complex relationships with the public, as it can help absorb criticism and maintain support for their operations from policymakers.
Woodside's sponsorship of the Fremantle Dockers exemplifies this approach, with the company claiming shared 'focus on sustainability.' However, this claim faces challenges, especially after Woodside altered its emissions and clean energy targets. Concurrently, climate change is presenting tangible risks to sports, impacting everything from playing conditions due to heat to the viability of snow and field-based sports.
