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Consumer loyalty card Nectar has moved from long-time partner BP to Esso for awarding fuel-purchase points.The decision has been met with criticism, however, due to controversy about Esso owner ExxonMobil’s policies on climate change.
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As BP severs its 16-year deal with Nectar, Esso is also ending its relationship with Tesco for Clubcard points at its 1,100 sites across the UK.
ExxonMobil continues to face allegations that it deliberately withheld information on climate change in order to maintain public confidence in fossil fuels. The European Union is investigating the company at present.
“Exxon has a shameful history of funding climate change denial – paying for fake science and dangerous lies that have prevented us from taking timely action on climate change and forcing the world into the current climate crisis,” commented Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for South West England and Gibraltar.
“A completely out-of-touch, backwards step”
Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Rachel Kennerley called the move by Nectar “a completely out-of-touch and backwards step… to be partnering with some of the world’s biggest polluters.”
Fuel loyalty schemes in general, don’t find favour with environmental campaigners, who say that any kind of incentives to consume fossil fuels are inappropriate as we transition to alternative-fuel vehicles.
“Promoting fossil fuels is always deeply irresponsible,” said Paul Prozzo, climate campaigner at Greenpeace.
“If someone poured bleach on your cornflakes, would you care whether it’s Cif or Domestos?”