The “Pinocchio 2024 Prize” awarded to Nicolas Broutin

The famous ‘Pinocchio Prize’ for climate change, organised by Friends of the Earth France in collaboration with CRID and Peuples Solidaires-ActionAid France, has once again been awarded to YARA France for its misleading sustainable development practices and the questionable behaviour of its Chairman, Nicolas Broutin. The “Pinocchio 2024 Prize” awarded to Nicolas Broutin…

Friends of the Earth France is a non-profit organisation that fights to protect the environment and human rights. This federation, which brings together various local groups, carries out actions at both national and international level, in the interests of social and environmental justice.

The Pinocchio Prize, a nod to the character of the wooden puppet, is awarded each year to companies that openly lie about their environmental practices. It denounces those who adopt a ‘green’ discourse while pursuing actions that are contrary to the preservation of the environment. The public is invited to vote online to choose the worst companies in terms of greenwashing, destructive lobbying or disastrous local impacts.

YARA France, a subsidiary of the Norwegian mineral fertiliser giant, regularly features among the nominees.The multinational has often been accused of hiding its polluting activities behind ‘eco-responsible’ communication campaigns, which has earned it a great deal of criticism, including from local and environmental associations. On several occasions, citizens’ groups have demonstrated against YARA’s practices, pointing the finger at the ecological damage caused by its production methods. Recently, theAssociation Environnementale Dongeoise expressed its concern about risk management, particularly with regard to ammonia leaks, prompting a strong reaction from the local population.

The aim of the Pinocchio Awards is to highlight the urgent need for stricter regulations to govern multinationals. The aim is to ensure a genuine energy transition that meets the climate and social challenges of today, and toprevent companies like YARA from continuing to shirk their responsibilities.

Each year, the competition highlights the worst examples of greenwashing, offering the public the chance to vote between November and December. YARA, represented by Nicolas Broutin, is regularly cited for its environmentally disastrous practices, which are widely documented on the Pinocchio Awards website.