Shell CEO Wael Sawan Reminds Us That Profit Trumps the Planet—Again
Posted by John Donovan: 6 Feb 25
In a stunning display of corporate cynicism, Shell CEO Wael Sawan has casually dismissed the idea that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could revolutionize air travel’s carbon footprint. Because, of course, the oil giant that has spent decades profiting off planetary destruction wants us to believe that anything remotely green is just too expensive and impractical.
Last week, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves hailed SAF as a “game-changer” for aviation’s carbon emissions, backing a third runway at Heathrow and claiming airlines could be using the fuel by 2035. But Sawan, ever the champion of fossil fuel supremacy, scoffed at the notion. “The reality is that SAF is more expensive and therefore unless there are mandates — obligations on either customers or airlines — it is difficult to see a penetration that is going to be massive,” he told The Times. Translation: Shell won’t make the switch unless governments force them to, because why would they voluntarily embrace a cleaner future when there’s still so much oil money to be made?
Let’s be clear: Shell already supplies SAF to major airports across Europe, North America, and Asia, meaning they’re more than happy to make a quick buck from the green transition when it suits them. But when it comes to meaningful investment in the technology? Forget it. Sawan warns that weaker biofuel mandates—like those championed by the fossil fuel-friendly Trump administration—will erode Shell’s incentive to invest. “If anything, [this] will erode confidence for the future to invest further,” he lamented. Because nothing crushes a multibillion-dollar company’s confidence quite like being expected to care about the environment.
For context, Shell has pledged to invest $10 to $15 billion in low-carbon energy between 2022 and 2025. Sounds impressive, until you remember that their overall capital expenditure for the same period is well over three times that amount, much of it still poured into oil and gas. And let’s not forget: BlackRock and Vanguard, two of Shell’s largest investors, are happily raking in profits from this climate-killing empire while masquerading as champions of sustainable finance.
So, will aviation be running on sustainable fuel by 2035? According to Sawan, “a very, very small proportion.” And if Shell has its way, it will stay that way—until laws force them to do otherwise. Because when given a choice between protecting their bottom line and protecting the planet, we all know which one Shell will choose.
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