bp has been criticised by environmental campaigners for exacerbating the climate crisis
An oil and gas company has been criticised by environmental groups after a donation to local charities in the north east of Scotland.
bp announced earlier this week that an event later this year would benefit four local charities.
A charity cycle completed by a team from bp will be in aid of the Russell Anderson Foundation, Simpsons Special Care Babies, the Teddy Bear Development Playgroup and Murtle Market by Camphill School.
The 234-mile cycle will take place over three days in June and is now in its 16th year.
Each year, four charities are selected by bp North Sea employees to benefit from the proceeds of the cycle.
The group is mainly made up of bp employees as well as bp alumni, representatives from the chosen charities and local organisations.
Any money raised by bp employees will be matched by the bp Foundation – doubling the value of their contributions.
But those fighting against companies reliant on fossil fuels have hit out at the move, saying bp’s charity work was “like the arsonist contributing to fundraisers for fire-fighting equipment”.
A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Scotland told TFN: "It’s increasingly apparent how the climate crisis is contributing to our everyday problems. High energy costs, inflation, volatile food prices and rising insurance costs are pushing us into deeper poverty, poorer health and more unstable lives. Most experts say it is only going to get worse.
“You really feel for charities because they are on the frontline of this, trying to pick up the pieces and keep our communities going. No-one should criticise them for accepting money that is desperately needed to improve lives. It’s what they are supposed to do.
“But there is a terrible irony to this. Fossil fuel companies like bp are causing this crisis. They are setting up a terrible future for our children. It is like the arsonist contributing to fundraisers for fire-fighting equipment and then demanding our gratitude.
“bp has recently backtracked from many of its environmental promises. They are prioritising profit over the health of the communities these charities are helping. How can bp really help our children and our society? By genuinely helping the world to transition to renewable energy as fast as possible."
A bp spokesperson said: “bp is proud of the support we have provided to community organisations in Scotland and across the UK over many decades, through charitable donations, partnership programmes and employee volunteering.
"The Coast 2 Coast challenge is an employee-led fundraising effort that has raised more than £2 million for a wide range of causes since it started some 15 years ago.”
