Fabricating Resemblance to Global Commitment: A Critical Discourse Analysis on BP Energy Outlook

Abstract

As public awareness and concerns for global warming and climate change grow increasingly stronger nowadays, major oil and gas companies have been required to provide their own pathways and commitments to stay in line with international or national goals and plans. The fossil fuel industry appears reluctant in cutting down further exploitation and investment in fossil fuels while proposing their own commitments towards climate goals. This inconsistency raises the question of whether these commitments are once again greenwashing practices. This article performs a critical discourse analysis on the BP Energy Outlook 2023 Edition based on Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional-Framework. It discloses how BP constructs scenarios that seemingly comply with international envision, while in fact dissembling significant modifications from those being claimed as resemblant. The targeted readers by the Outlook are then to be deduced, as well as the intention of releasing the Outlook. The Outlook is possibly a scheme of responsibility-shifting and delaying actions to help BP disguise its continuation of carbon-intensive business mode. As there are more and more investors valuing climate responsibilities, there need to be attention and validation on these claims and commitments, so further unfaithful publicity can be discerned and solid advances towards climate goals can be ensured.