MEDIA COVERAGE
Press Releases
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Akepa, 23 January: “Greenwashing: 18 recent stand-out examples”
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Currency News, 20 December: “Final slap for TotalEnergies in ‘greenwashing’ case”
African Arguments, 20 November: “‘One finger in clean energy, two legs in fossil fuels': TotalEnergies accused of COP29 greenwashing offensive‘“
The People’s Eye, 12 Dec: “ARB concludes that TotalEnergies’ sponsorship of SANParks is greenwashing”
Daily Mail Africa, 24 Aug: “TotalEnergies faces criticism for “Greenwashing” in South Africa“
Energy News, 23 Aug: “TotalEnergies accused of greenwashing by South African regulator“
Microsoft Start, 23 Aug: “SA ad body rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
IOL, 23 Aug: “SA ad body rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
Energy News, 23 Aug: “TotalEnergies accusée de greenwashing par le régulateur sud-africain“
RSE Magazine, 23 Aug: “TotalEnergies accusé de greenwashing en Afrique du Sud“
Afrik.com, 23 Aug: “Afrique du Sud : TotalEnergies épinglé par le régulateur de publicité pour «greenwashing»“
African Law & Business, 23 Aug: “TotalEnergies slapped with historic greenwashing ruling“
Greenpeace Africa post via X, 22 Aug
Radio France Internationale, 22 Aug: “Afrique du Sud: un régulateur épingle TotalEnergies pour «greenwashing», dans une première mondiale“
Extract from Fossil Ad Ban campaigner Lazola Kati’s interview on Radio France Internationale, 22 Aug
Demières Nouvelles d’Alsace, 22 Aug: “TotalEnergies épinglé pour du « greenwashing » dans une publicité“
Media Part, 22 Aug: “Afrique du Sud: un régulateur épingle TotalEnergies pour du «greenwashing»“
Jeune Afrique, 22 Aug: “Un régulateur sud-africain épingle TotalEnergies pour «greenwashing»“
Liberation repost on Microsoft Start, 23 Aug: “TotalEnergies épinglé pour «greenwashing» en Afrique du Sud“
Le Soir, 22 Aug: “TotalEnergies épinglé pour «greenwashing»“
Nouvelle Aube, 22 Aug: “Afrique du Sud: un régulateur épingle TotalEnergies pour du “greenwashing”“
Liberation, 22 Aug: “TotalEnergies épinglé pour «greenwashing» en Afrique du Sud“
Radio France Internationale repost on Yahoo! News, 22 Aug: “Afrique du Sud: un régulateur épingle TotalEnergies pour «greenwashing», dans une première mondiale“
Ahram Info, 22 Aug: “Afrique du Sud: TotalEnergies épinglée pour du “greenwashing”“
African Insider, 22 Aug: “SA ad body rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
Barron’s, 22 Aug: “S.Africa Ad Body Rules on TotalEnergies ‘Greenwashing’“
The Witness, 22 Aug: “Advertising Regulatory Board rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
Green Building Africa, 22 Aug: “TotalEnergies found guilty of greenwashing in South Africa“
Satori News, 22 Aug: “TotalEnergies Face South African Backlash Over “Misleading” Sustainable Development Claims“
Climate Court, 22 Aug: “ARB Decides Against TotalEnergies: Greenwashing on Sustainable Development“
Mail & Guardian, 22 Aug: “TotalEnergies advertising found to be misleading and greenwashing“
Daily Maverick repost on Microsoft Start, 22 Aug: “SA advertising regulator finds TotalEnergies was misleading on ‘sustainable development’ commitments“
The South African, 22 Aug: “South Africa ad watchdog rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
East Coast Radio, 22 Aug: “Advertising Regulatory Board rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
Head Topics, 22 Aug: “South Africa ad watchdog rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
Jacaranda FM, 22 Aug: “South Africa ad body rules on TotalEnergies ‘greenwashing’“
ESG News, 22 Aug: “South Africa’s Regulator Deems TotalEnergies’ Sustainability Claim Misleading, Highlighting Global Crackdown on Greenwashing“
Bloomberg repost on Bloomberg Law, 21 Aug: “TotalEnergies’ Ad Found ‘Misleading’ Over Sustainability Claim“
Bloomberg repost on Daily Investor, 21 Aug: “Big petrol station brand under fire in South Africa“
Bloomberg repost on BNN Bloomberg, 21 Aug: “TotalEnergies’ Ad Found ‘Misleading’ Over Sustainability Claim“
Bloomberg repost on Financial Post, 21 Aug: “TotalEnergies’ Ad Found ‘Misleading’ Over Sustainability Claim“
Bloomberg, 21 Aug: “TotalEnergies’ Ad Found ‘Misleading’ Over Sustainability Claim“
Daily Maverick, 21 Aug: “SA advertising regulator finds TotalEnergies was misleading on ‘sustainable development’ commitments“
News24, 20 Aug: “SA ad watchdog rules against TotalEnergies claim“
Biz Community, 19 Aug: “TotalEnergies SA ad rules ‘misleading’ by ARB“
Twyg, 4 July: “Why you need to understand greenwashing“
Daily Maverick, 4 June: “How to be Africa’s ‘leading sustainable bank’ while funding a carbon bomb.”
Cape Talk interview, 11 June: “Fossil Free SA’s ‘Fossil Ad Ban’ campaign lodges greenwashing complaint against TotalEnergies”
Eye Witness News, 11 June: “Fossil Free SA lays greenwashing complaint with advertising watchdog against energy company“
Daily Maverick, 10 June: “NGO lodges SA’s first ‘greenwashing’ advertising complaint with watchdog against TotalEnergies“
BizCommunity, 6 June: “South Africa’s creative industry: a ‘change agent’ for a climate safe future?”
MarkLives.com, 2 May: “Clean Creatives’ call to adland to ditch fossil fuel brands“
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Daily Maverick, 28 December 2023: Our Clean Creatives SA is a runner-up for Environmental Champ of the Year award
Daily Maverick, 29 November 2023: “Activists cry ‘greenwashing’ over TotalEnergies’ ties with SANParks“
Mail and Guardian, 20 November 2023: Clean Creatives SA campaign wins a Greening the Future award
News 24, 23 October 2023: “Two things South Africans need to know about the fossil fuel industry“
Daily Maverick, 12 October 2023: “The irony of Africa Energy Week’s capture by the oil and gas industry“
Daily Maverick, 9 October 2023: “Local advertising industry plays pivotal role in aiding environmental destruction, says Clean Creatives South Africa“
Business Day, 9 October 2023: “Ad agencies pressure colleagues to drop fossil fuel companies“
News 24, 7 October 2023: “How investors can fight greenwashing“
GroundUp, 6 October 2023: “Ad agencies pressure their colleagues not to work for fossil fuel companies“
Daily Maverick, 26 September 2023: “SANParks should not be providing a platform to help climate-breaking companies like TotalEnergies look good“
Daily Maverick, 20 September 2023: “Asset managers are still failing the greatest test facing humanity“
Daily Maverick, 27 August 2023: “Environmental destruction by Sasol taints Banyana Banyana’s breakthrough success“
Daily Maverick, 13 June 2023: “The bucks stop here – let’s stop investing in firms that fuel the climate crisis“
Business Day, 31 May 2023: “UCT and Anglicans lead fossil fuel divestment in SA“
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News24.com, 3 December 2022: “More than 100 Allan Gray clients want fossil-free fund“
LegalBrief, 7 December 2022: “Allan Gray won’t divest from fossil fuels“
CityWire, 1 December 2022: “Allan Gray declines calls for a fossil fuel-free fund“
GroundUp, 30 November 2022 (also syndicated to Daily Dispatch): “Investment manager says no to plea for fossil fuel-free investment fund“
MoneyWeb, 1 December 2022: “Allan Gray says no to plea for fossil fuel-free investment fund“
Daily Maverick, 30 November 2022: “Allan Gray rejects plea for establishment of fossil fuel-free investment fund“
Cape Talk, 30 November 2022: Fossil Free SA on afternoon drive with John Maytham
1 November 2022: Business Day: “Climate emergency is far worse than acknowledged“
15 October 2022: News24: “OPINION | The switch to solar can be a lot more sustainable“
25 Sept 2022, SABC News’s Sunday Media & Society show: David Le Page, Fossil Free SA coordinator and co-author of our Climate Reporting Guide for SA was interviewed about climate reporting in South Africa.
22 September, Daily Maverick: “Eastern Cape climate campaigner’s journey to defuse ‘the missile’” (paywall link, here’s a pdf version)
16 September 2022, Daily Maverick: “Media failed to warn society about climate collapse — science writer“
7 June 2022: Bruce Whitfield on CapeTalk: “Cleaning up: SA advertising, PR industry urged to ditch fossil fuel clients” (Note: This was the first interview secured focusing on our new Clean Creatives programme.)
23 March 2022: “UCT’s decision to divest from fossil fuels is to be lauded – but it must be more than just symbolic“
22 March 2022: “GRAY MAGUIRE: UCT’s move against fossil fuel investment signals hardening attitude“
19 March 2022: News24: “UCT gives green light to ditch fossil fuels“
19 January 2022: News24: “Are my investments supporting fossil fuel companies?“
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3 December 2021: GroundUp: “UCT urged to urgently divest from fossil fuels“
3 December 2021: CapeTalk: “UCT to look into divesting itself of Fossil fuels“
19 November 2021: Mail & Guardian: “China won’t fund coal power for Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone, ambassador confirms“
19 November 2021: The South African: “China pulls out of building a ‘mega power plant’ in Limpopo“
19 November 2021: Engineering News: “China withdraws funding from Limpopo 3 GW SEZ power project”
12 November 2021: Smile FM: Interview on Smile Breakfast
14 September 2021: Business Day: ‘IPCC report should be a wake-up call to Mantashe on “bridge gas”‘
18 August 2021: Daily Maverick: ‘Climate crisis: Decarbonising window will close for universities like Wits if they don’t lead the way‘
18 August 2021, Mail & Guardian: ‘Academics, students urge Wits to divest‘
12 May 2021, Mail & Guardian: ‘UCT needs to clean up its dirty investments‘
11 May 2021, Daily Maverick: ‘Green power: UCT put in crosshairs by climate crisis activists taking a stand against fossil fuels‘
11 May 2021, Cape Talk: ‘UCT fossil fuel divestment protest‘
16 April 2021, Mail & Guardian: ‘Wits in a climate hot spot’
23 March 2021, TimesLive: ‘Our public finance institutions are fuelling climate change‘ (Joint oped with 350Africa.org, African Climate Reality Project, Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, Justiça Ambiental (Friends of the Earth Mozambique) and the Life After Coal campaign)
18 March 2021, The World (co-production of PRX and WGBH, US public radio): ‘The Big Fix: Climate divestment activists draw inspiration from South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle‘
22 February 2021 in Citywire: ‘Local managers respond to Fossil Free SA’s call for fossil fuel-free funds’ | (Screengrab from Citywire frontpage on 22 Feb 2021)
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October 2020 in Green Building Africa: ‘eThekwini/Durban commits to Phasing out Investments in Climate-Breaking Fossil Fuels’
October 2020 in Green Times: ‘Durban to Drop Fossil Fuels from its investments’
4 February 2020: Business Live: ‘Investors are sitting on a time bomb of fossil fuel assets’
30 January 2020: News 24: ‘Coal kills’ – activists ask big business to forget profits and put environment first
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13 August 2019: Daily Maverick: ‘Pension funds at risk as tide turns against carbon-polluting industries’
July 2019: Radio interview with Keenan Williams on Cape Talk.
13 June 2019: Daily Maverick: ‘Invest for the future, divest from companies that fuel the climate crisis’
14 April 2019: Interview on eNCA Business Hour.
4 April 2019: Interview on Cape Talk Breakfast show with An Wentzel.
8 February 2019: Oped in Business Day: ‘Climate change must be a central pillar of economic growth’
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12 September 2018: Article on Twyg webzine: ‘What is the effect of your savings on dirty energy companies?’
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10 October 2017: Interview re Inconvenient Sequel and divestment on Classic FM (Jhb), with Tamara LePine Williams.
4 October 2017: Mellony Spark interviewed on SABC Channel Africa about our ‘We are Ready to Divest’ petition and plans for Rocking the Daisies.
20 September 2017: Interviewed by Ernest Pillay on Radio 2000 drive time.
August 2017: Our UCT campaign was mentioned in an EWN article referring to this article on The Conversation, and republished here.
July 2017: Article ‘Breaking up with fossil fuels’ (see pdf here) in Green Economy Journal 26 (magazine).
Oped in Business Day (19 July 2017): ‘Signs are the climate is right for divesting from the fossil fuel industry’ (archived link here)
Oped on Independent Online (19 May 2017): ‘The end of fossil fuels a fresh start for continent’. This article was also printed in The Mercury, Pretoria News, Cape Times and The Star.
Radio interview on SABC Channel Africa (2 May 2017)
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Cape Town TV, interview on Ek se (29 June 2016)
earthworks magazine (May 2016
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SAFM (The Enviro Show), 29 January 2015, national radio interview with Nancy Richards
5FM, 26 January 2015, national radio interview on Fresh Drive show
Mail & Guardian, 9 January 2015, ‘Get out of dirty fossil fuel‘
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Htxt.Africa, 8 January 2014, ‘R1.3 million crowdfunding campaign to halt climate change in SA still open on Thundafund‘
Business Day, 8 December 2014, ‘Fossil Free SA: Saving life as we know it‘ (pdf version)
Green Home, December 2014 (p. 37).
Daily Maverick, 28 November 2014, ‘Divesting from dirty energy – a question of freedom’.
News24.com, 17 November 2014, ‘Are you financing the fossil fuel industry?’
Constantiaberg Bulletin, 20 November 2014, ‘You may be funding the fossil fuel industry’ (pdf)
Fossil Free SA was interviewed on Voice of the Cape and Radio Islam on 10/11 November.
Open Democracy (24 October 2014): ‘After inspiring fossil fuel divestment, will South Africa’s own campaign succeed?’
VARSITY (14 Oct 2014) ‘Fossil Free UCT campaign‘
Interviewed on the Enviro Show, SAFM (radio, 31 July 2014)
Ecumenical News (31 July 2014): ‘Desmond Tutu calls on South African university to divest from fossil fuels’
The Sowetan (28 July 2014): ‘Fight against climate change in Africa gets boost as Tutu endorses student call for UCT to go fossil free’
Cape Business News (28 July 2014): ‘Archbishop Tutu asks UCT to withdraw investments in fossil fuels’
VARSITY (29 April 2014): ‘UCT should divest from fossil fuels now’