A new report from the Center for Climate Integrity reveals that oil and gas companies knew as early as the 1960s that branding natural gas as clean was deceptive. The report documents decades of industry marketing campaigns, including the American Gas Association's 1971 'Clean Energy for Today and Tomorrow' campaign, that convinced about half of Americans that natural gas is a clean energy source despite methane being a potent greenhouse gas. The report shows that fossil fuel companies sponsored their own research through entities like the Gas Research Institute to create an appearance of objectivity. Internal documents reveal that even the EPA lacked the expertise to independently verify industry data in joint studies. Today, natural gas is still classified as green energy in at least four states, and the gas appliance industry continues to lobby against health labeling standards. For carbon market participants and climate policy watchers, this report underscores the gap between public perception and the actual emissions impact of natural gas. Methane leaks throughout the supply chain undermine any claim of natural gas as a bridge fuel, and the report suggests that current policy frameworks may still be relying on outdated industry narratives.
