“If you don’t think you can have an impact on a Big Oil company, think again”
-Texaco advertisement, USA, circa 1989
Clean energy advocates and activists have noted for decades that the barriers to a clean energy transition are political, not technical. Today, particularly in the United States, this is more apparent than ever. Oil Change International is the first organization dedicated to identifying, overcoming, and dismantling these political barriers to clean energy.
We focus on the oil industry because we understand and view the oil industry as a source of global warming, human rights abuses, war, national security concerns, corporate globalization, poverty, and addiction. We also see their interests behind every major political barrier to a clean energy transition. We believe the three key barriers to this transition currently are:
- The political influence of the oil industry, particularly in the United States – we address this via our Separation of Oil & State Campaign;
- The myth that oil production and consumption brings affluence, particularly in the Global South, and the use of international development funds to subsidize the oil industry – hence our campaign to End Oil Aid.
- The financial mechanics of an industry that is rewarded for finding more oil, not providing more energy - which we will address via a campaign focusing on financial analysts and investors.
Oil Change was founded in order to network together, encourage, and compliment a diversity of strategies and tactics around the oil industry. We are a research and advocacy organization that exists to force progress in the energy industry towards an environmentally and socially sustainable energy future. We achieve this by: being a consistent and credible source of information on the industry; using our knowledge of the industry to craft strategic, incisive campaigns; and by working with people around the world who are committed to shifting power.
Oil Change International organizes to unite allies, campaigns to divide opponents, and conducts research to expose hidden truths and trends towards overcoming each of these barriers.
Oil Change International is a 501(c)3 organization. Donations are fully tax deductible. You can make a donation via our online server, or you can send a check to: Oil Change International, 2228 12th Pl., NW, Washington DC, 20009.