Co-founder of Brandalism, Tona Merriman, alleged Shell had attempted to “co-opt the emotional connections we have with sport to launder their dirty brand”.
“Behind its billion-dollar marketing efforts Shell is back-pedalling on its own green pledges, profiting from our soaring energy bills, and facing legal challenges across the globe for violating human rights,” he said.
Brandalism highlighted research from the non-profit organisation Global Witness, external, which suggested that emissions from fossil fuels produced by Shell and four other oil and gas firms could result in 11.5 million excess deaths from heat by 2100.
Shell said the Global Witness research was “strongly disputed”.
A spokesperson said: “A key pillar of our partnership is in helping accelerate British Cycling’s journey to net zero and encouraging the uptake of more low- and zero-carbon forms of transport, such as cycling and electric vehicles.”
The company also said it was aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
