Fossil Free Politics MEP Pledge
It's time to take a stand against the undue influence of the fossil fuel industry on our politics. On this page, you can sign the Fossil Free Politics pledge and join the growing group of Fossil Free MEPs. After all, politics belongs to the people, not the polluters.
For decades, the fossil fuel industry has worked to block effective climate action—denying science, delaying progress, and distorting democratic debate. Fossil fuel companies have lobbied relentlessly at national, EU, and international levels to weaken or derail policies aimed at reducing emissions and phasing out fossil fuels.
Through massive lobbying efforts, greenwashing campaigns, and the promotion of false solutions, these companies have sought to protect their own profits—at great cost to people and the planet.
This influence has undermined the EU’s ability to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement and to keep global warming below 1.5°C. It has delayed the just and urgent transition needed for a livable future.
To secure a livable future for people and the planet, we must draw a clear line: those responsible for the crisis and continue to benefit from it should not shape its solutions. To stop the fossil fuel industry from continuing to obstruct climate and energy policy, we must free policymaking from its influence.
Regular interactions between EU decision-makers and fossil fuel industry representatives give the industry disproportionate influence over policymaking. This unlimited access allows them to dilute legislation, block stronger climate targets, and shape policies that serve corporate interests over public and environmental well-being.
Pledge text
As a Member of the European Parliament,
I pledge to work towards cutting fossil fuel interests out of our politics and,
a) I will interact with the fossil fuel industry only when and to the extent strictly necessary to be able to effectively regulate this industry and the transition.
b) Where interactions with the fossil fuel industry are necessary, I will engage in them transparently. Whenever possible, I will hold these interactions in public—for example, through public hearings, advance notice, and the disclosure of records to ensure public access.
I sign this pledge with a view to upholding it to the best of my knowledge.
Sign the Fossil Free Politics MEP Pledge
- Please only sign this pledge if you are a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), or a member of their staff with authority to sign the pledge on their behalf.
- MEPs are being asked to sign this pledge as individuals, and not on behalf of the party they are affiliated with.
- The Fossil Free Politics campaign’s definition of fossil fuel industry is, as follows:
- Companies involved in the extraction of fossil fuels (coal, oil and fossil gas);
- Companies involved in building and operating infrastructure used to transport and/or store fossil fuels;
- Subsidiaries or companies owned/controlled by these companies
- Companies involved primarily (more than 51% of their turnover) in trading and selling fossil fuels;
- Energy utilities who primarily (more than 51% of their turnover) consume fossil fuels to generate electricity.
- “Its representatives” may include lobbyists who are paid a fee to represent their interests or fossil fuel industry networks, pressure groups, business associations like Eurogas. Additionally we also refer to individuals & organisations representing fossil fuel industry interests, like PR firms and consultancies working for the industry & other individuals and organisations with commercial or vested interests in the industry.
- ‘to the best of my knowledge’ – we have added this disclaimer to allow for the possibility that you may non-intentionally find yourself in a meeting with fossil fuel lobbyists. Should this happen after you have signed the pledge, we ask that you report transparently about it and take the opportunity to publicly call out the industry for its veiled lobbying attempt.
- The Fossil Free Politics MEP pledge is heavily inspired by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, more specifically Article 5.3. This Article of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control aims for the protection of public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. One of the main recommendations (recommendation nr 2) for addressing tobacco industry interference in public health policies is: Establish measures to limit interactions with the tobacco industry and ensure the transparency of those interactions that occur.
- 2.1 Parties should interact with the tobacco industry only when and to the extent strictly necessary to enable them to effectively regulate the tobacco industry and tobacco products.
- 2.2 Where interactions with the tobacco industry are necessary, Parties should ensure that such interactions are conducted transparently. Whenever possible, interactions should be conducted in public, for example through public hearings, public notice of interactions, disclosure of records of such interactions to the public.More info can be found here: https://fctc.who.int/docs/librariesprovider12/default-document-library/who-fctc-article-5.3.pdf
- ‘I will engage in them transparently’ - We call for full transparency of your interactions with the Fossil Fuel industry. This transparency call is in line with the rules in force on publication of meetings, as already set out in Annex I Article 7 of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. More info: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rules/rules20240716/Rules20240716_EN.pdf
If you would like to know more about the pledge or the Fossil Free Politics Campaign, please find the detailed FAQ document here.