A former employee of RELX PLC—which he called “the world’s largest global publishing house” that “owns the most renowned data analytics companies”—alleged that after working at the company from 2014 to 2020 he discovered that the company and two subsidiary companies (the defendants) were engaged in greenwashing because “their business conduct [was] actively supporting fossil fuel expansion while they pledged to protect the climate as part of their public-facing marketing.” The plaintiff alleged that the defendants misled shareholders, consumers, the scientific community, and the public. Alleged misrepresentations included signing on to the “Climate Pledge” to minimize climate impacts consistent with Paris Agreement goals and to support global efforts to achieve net zero emissions before 2050. The complaint alleged that the companies’ business practices were at odds with these commitments, including support for new fossil fuel projects after 2021, omitting mention of publication of journals for oil and gas technology and strategies for petroleum exploration, supporting (through a political action committee) “politicians who deny climate change,” working with companies “who have been prosecuted for perpetuating environmental harm,” and providing services and publications to support fossil fuel companies. The plaintiff alleged that when he “decided to speak up to Defendants regarding his climate-related concerns,” the defendants intimidated, harassed, and eventually terminated him. The plaintiff claimed that the company’s actions violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Employment Practices Act, and the Securities Exchange Act. He also asserted claims of promissory estoppel and wrongful discharge in violation of clearly established public policy.

Former employee's lawsuit against publishing and data analytics company alleging that the company misled shareholders, consumers, the scientific community, and the public about the company's commitment to addressing climate change.

Lyall v. Elsevier Inc.

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Former Employee Said Publishing/Data Analytics Company Engaged in Greenwashing

Filed

United States of America

Massachusetts

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

A ban is a legal action that prevents the sale or supply of a product or service, or that recalls a product from the market. Examples are bans on SF6, greenwashing, fossil fuel advertisement or single-use plastics.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

A commitment to balance GHG emissions with removal by a certain point in time, effectively reducing the net emissions to zero

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Terrestrial means "of the earth" and relates to the risks to ecological system that includes all living organisms and their interactions within land-based environments, such as forests, grasslands, and deserts.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from carbonised plant matter, rich in carbon and hydrocarbons, and occurring in several main types including hard coal and brown coal.

People whose health, both mental and physical, makes them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change

Activities of industries that extract natural resources, such as mining, oil, and gas, for commercial use.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

This sector provides communication services, software development, and IT solutions.

This sector involves activities that impart knowledge and skills to individuals, including formal schooling, vocational training and educational support.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

Activities of businesses and institutions that provide financial services and products to individuals and organisations.

Slow onset events evolve gradually from incremental changes over many years or from increased frequency or intensity of recurring events. As defined in the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010), slow onset events include risks and impacts from rising temperatures, desertification, biodiversity loss, land and forest degradation, glacial retreat, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and salinization.

Former Employee Said Publishing/Data Analytics Company Engaged in Greenwashing

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance