BRITISH CYCLING have been slammed by Greenpeace for agreeing sponsorship terms with oil and gas firm Shell UK.
The sports governing body has signed an eight-year partnership with the energy giants until 2030.
British Cycling say the controversial deal will "support" Great Britain’s cyclists and para-cyclists, share "world-class innovation and expertise" and accelerate their "path to net zero".
Shell UK claim the agreement will encourage "low and zero-carbon forms of transport such as cycling and electric vehicles."
Yet cycling bosses have been accused by environmental activists of allowing Shell UK to greenwash its brand and abundant use of fossil fuels at a time when Climate Change is high on the global agenda.
Greenpeace UK policy director Dr Doug Parr told SunSport: "The idea of Shell helping British Cycling reach net zero is as absurd as beef farmers advising lettuce farmers on how to go vegan.
READ MORE IN CYCLING
Lance Armstrong ‘crashes Brit wedding do’ and chats up women sparking bust up
Get up to £100 sign up bonus and 10% cashback with All British Casino in October
"After being booted out of museums and other cultural institutions, Big Oil are looking at sports as the next frontier for their brazen greenwash.
"But their aim hasn’t changed – to distract from the inconvenient fact that the fossil fuel industry is making our planet uninhabitable.
"British Cycling missed an opportunity to tell the oil giant the one thing they needed to hear – On your bike, Shell."
There is, of course, the great irony of cycling being used in such a manner given that it is one of the greenest methods of transportation around.
Most read in Cycling
Lance Armstrong 'crashes Brit wedding do' and chats up women sparking bust up
Champ cyclist's partner reveals how she tried to save star before sudden death
Cyclist flies into crowd & leaves fan covered in blood in Commonwealth smash
Laura Kenny 'almost pulled out of Commonwealth Games' after Walls' crash
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Brian Facer, CEO of British Cycling, said: "We’re looking forward to working alongside Shell UK over the rest of this decade.
"To widen access to the sport, support our elite riders and help our organisation and sport take important steps towards net zero – things we know our members are incredibly passionate about."
Ineos, the leading chemical and plastics company, have run a cycling outfit since 2019.
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s business took over the running of Team Sky, campaigners blasted the takeover, calling them a "planet-wrecking company."
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Jamie Peters said: "Cycling is the epitome of environmentally friendly travel.
"It’s deeply disappointing that British Cycling could think it’s appropriate to partner with a fossil fuel giant.
Read More on The Sun
Martin Lewis reveals way to calculate running cost of household appliances
My daughter’s been asking to dye her hair – I gave in but trolls slammed me
"Shell UK is continuing to invest billions in oil and gas projects, while using cynical PR initiatives like this partnership to attempt to greenwash its harmful activities.
"Tobacco firms are rightly banned from sports sponsorship due to the damaging health effects. The same should apply to oil and gas companies which are devastating the health of our planet."
Source: Read Full Article
