'No one would justify the slavery industry': Christiana Figueres launches scathing attack on oil firms' climate failures

Michael Holder
clock • 7 min read
Christiana Figueres led the UNFCCC from 2010 to 2016 | Credit: Jimena Mateo
Image:

Christiana Figueres led the UNFCCC from 2010 to 2016 | Credit: Jimena Mateo

Former UN climate head cites past efforts of slave traders to 'self-justify' their actions, as she argues history will not look kindly on oil and gas companies' continued failure to accelerate decarbonisation efforts

Oil and gas companies are making "no effort to get on the right side of history", with their failure to adequately respond to the climate crisis at risk of being viewed by future generations as "impossible...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Politics

Miliband: The UK will pursue climate action as a 'national security imperative'

Miliband: The UK will pursue climate action as a 'national security imperative'

Foreign Secretary tells New York Climate Week "climate and nature loss represents an urgent national security issue and demands action equal to the scale of the challenge"

James Murray
clock 22 September 2026 • 5 min read
Andy Burnham stresses determination for UK to 'reach net zero by 2050'

Andy Burnham stresses determination for UK to 'reach net zero by 2050'

Prime Minister promotes new funding for community energy projects, as he hails "the green transition as the best chance we will ever have to reindustrialise Britain"

James Murray
clock 17 September 2026 • 6 min read
'Unnecessary distraction': DESNZ rejects calls from MPs to drop 'net zero' from its name

'Unnecessary distraction': DESNZ rejects calls from MPs to drop 'net zero' from its name

Government dismisses suggestion to ditch 'net zero' term as 'unnecessary distraction from the reality of climate change and the urgent need to transition to clean power'

Michael Holder
clock 17 September 2026 • 6 min read