Loughborough renewable expert critical of BP decision to focus on oil and gas production
A Loughborough University academic has criticised BP’s decision to increase investment into oil and gas whilst cutting funding for renewable energy.
The energy company announced its strategy change this week with investors unhappy with profits and share price.
In a passionate response to the news, Dr Richard Blanchard, academic lead for Energy and Sustainability at the University’s Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) said, despite the obvious need for clean energy, the move was illogical but unsurprising: “There is a clear understanding that emissions from fossil fuels are fostering global warming. Yet, it was only a matter of time that BP and others reverted to type and moved away from any pretence of trying to be green – abandoning the Paris Climate agreement and banning clean energy research activities.
“BP once rebranded itself as Beyond Petroleum but now, with the decision to move back towards finite resources such as oil and gas, has shortened its existence in the same way it shortens climate stability with greenhouse gas emissions.
“The science demonstrates we are off course for limiting global warming to under 3C by the end of the century. We have already reached the 1.5C guard rail temperature rise that the Paris Agreement said we should not pass but, despite this, BP is not alone in ramping up oil production.
“It is clear that fossil fuels have advanced humanity beyond the realms of what could have been achieved but the cost is a warming planet. Since the dawn of civilisation 5000 years ago, humans have largely lived in the same climatic niches because the temperature, rainfall and soils, of these areas allowed us to grow crops and raise animals. There is a reason our main population base is away from desert regions and a warmer planet will lead to widespread population movement and instability.
“This really is a battle between private profits and the survival of a planet that we can inhabit. To Murray Auchincloss, CEO of BP, why are we pouring more petrol on a house that is already on fire? Where is the logic, the compassion, the emphathy?
“What is the mindset about profit over people, nature and our survival? What will you say to your grandchildren when they ask, “Grandfather, what did you do in the carbon war?”
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 25/33
Dr Richard Blanchard is academic lead for Energy and Sustainability and specialises in energy systems. He joined Loughborough University in 2002 and is based in the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST). His research encompasses the role of renewable energy in development and climate change mitigation, photovoltaic and bioenergy systems (hybrid and microgeneration), resources, monitoring and sustainability topics such as lifecycle and environmental impact assessment. He is the Head of Energy and Power Engineering Research in the Wolfson School where there is a strong focus on Net Zero technologies, systems and their interaction with society that aligns with one of the main university research strategies.
About Loughborough University
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running.
Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
A Loughborough University academic has criticised BP’s decision to increase investment into oil and gas whilst cutting funding for renewable energy.
The energy company announced its strategy change this week with investors unhappy with profits and share price.
In a passionate response to the news, Dr Richard Blanchard, academic lead for Energy and Sustainability at the University’s Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) said, despite the obvious need for clean energy, the move was illogical but unsurprising: “There is a clear understanding that emissions from fossil fuels are fostering global warming. Yet, it was only a matter of time that BP and others reverted to type and moved away from any pretence of trying to be green – abandoning the Paris Climate agreement and banning clean energy research activities.
“BP once rebranded itself as Beyond Petroleum but now, with the decision to move back towards finite resources such as oil and gas, has shortened its existence in the same way it shortens climate stability with greenhouse gas emissions.
“The science demonstrates we are off course for limiting global warming to under 3C by the end of the century. We have already reached the 1.5C guard rail temperature rise that the Paris Agreement said we should not pass but, despite this, BP is not alone in ramping up oil production.
“It is clear that fossil fuels have advanced humanity beyond the realms of what could have been achieved but the cost is a warming planet. Since the dawn of civilisation 5000 years ago, humans have largely lived in the same climatic niches because the temperature, rainfall and soils, of these areas allowed us to grow crops and raise animals. There is a reason our main population base is away from desert regions and a warmer planet will lead to widespread population movement and instability.
“This really is a battle between private profits and the survival of a planet that we can inhabit. To Murray Auchincloss, CEO of BP, why are we pouring more petrol on a house that is already on fire? Where is the logic, the compassion, the emphathy?
“What is the mindset about profit over people, nature and our survival? What will you say to your grandchildren when they ask, “Grandfather, what did you do in the carbon war?”
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 25/33
Dr Richard Blanchard is academic lead for Energy and Sustainability and specialises in energy systems. He joined Loughborough University in 2002 and is based in the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST). His research encompasses the role of renewable energy in development and climate change mitigation, photovoltaic and bioenergy systems (hybrid and microgeneration), resources, monitoring and sustainability topics such as lifecycle and environmental impact assessment. He is the Head of Energy and Power Engineering Research in the Wolfson School where there is a strong focus on Net Zero technologies, systems and their interaction with society that aligns with one of the main university research strategies.
About Loughborough University
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running.
Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
