What’s in a hurricane name? Storm Chevron batters US coast

Beryl, Debby, Kirk, Milton….   

Most of you will have seen the headlines. This year the Atlantic coast has been hit by a series of brutal mega storms.  

Hurricanes Beryl and Helene were particularly deadly – together they resulted in over 300 deaths. Helene alone is estimated to have caused $50 billion worth of damage.   

So why do we give these devastating storms such cute names? 

In a new parody video series, we’ve bucked that trend. We’re calling hurricanes Exxon, Chevron, BP and Shell in recognition of Big Oil's role in driving extreme weather events.  

First up, here’s Storm Chevron.  

These parody weather forecasts star actor David Harewood of Homeland fame as a news anchorman delivering terrible reports of hurricane damage, and celebrated comic stand-up Janine Harouni as the fossil fuel PR exec struggling to put a positive spin on the carnage.   

The videos are satirical but they drive home a serious point – that the companies that have most to answer for when it comes to climate breakdown are getting off scot-free.  

Who’s to blame for the climate crisis? 

Big fossil fuel companies have played an outsized role in unleashing climate chaos.    

The burning of fossil fuels accounts for nearly 90% of global CO2 emissions, which are cooking the planet. This summer was the hottest ever on record – triggering deadly heatwaves, wildfires and droughts.  

Global heating has also increased the likelihood and intensity of major storm events, according to climate scientists.   

A recent study by Climate Central showed that the higher sea temperatures that led to the rapid intensification of Hurricane Milton were 400-800 times more likely because of climate change.  

Big Oil has known for decades the damage their products are causing. But instead of reversing course, they've chosen to cash in while the rest of us suffer.  

For decades, many of these companies ignored their own scientists and funded campaigns of climate denial to keep their profits flowing. They’ve also spent billions blocking climate action. 

Oil firms love to hype up their green credentials, but in reality they only invest a tiny fraction of their profits into green energy. In 2022, the oil and gas industry made a record $4 trillion in pre-tax profits. That same year, only 1.5% of global investments in renewables came from oil and gas firms.  

As communities piece their lives back together in the wake of the most recent spree of deadly hurricanes, let's stop giving these devastating storms names that we’d call our kids.  

Let’s name them after the companies fueling climate breakdown instead.