Fossil Fuel FUD Is Targeting Your Children

Baseload Capital, a Swedish investment firm specialising in geothermal energy projects, has produced a children’s picture book titled *Our Hidden Powers: The Big Switch* that seeks to explain the energy transition through the character Fossi, a personification of fossil fuels. Fossi is initially ostracised by his peers for his role in climate change but eventually persuades them of the historical importance of fossil fuels in enabling modern society. The narrative then shifts to Fossi collaborating with renewable energy sources, presenting a vision of cooperation in the transition to cleaner energy. The book’s author, Kristina Hagström Ilievska, Baseload Capital’s chief marketing officer, describes the story as an educational tool designed to help children understand the complexities of energy use and climate change. She emphasises that the book is not a corporate product and aims to foster a constructive dialogue about moving away from fossil fuels. However, critics have highlighted that Baseload Capital is partly owned by major oil and gas companies Chevron and Baker Hughes, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the portrayal of fossil fuels in a sympathetic light. Environmental advocates and former industry insiders have criticised the book for echoing fossil fuel industry narratives that downplay the sector’s role in obstructing climate action. Lindsey Gulden, a former ExxonMobil climate scientist, described the idea of fossil fuels as a misunderstood “new kid” as disingenuous, pointing out that fossil fuel companies have long lobbied against renewable energy policies. Greenpeace Nordics’ Gustav Martner also argued that the story glosses over the entrenched power fossil fuels hold in maintaining the status quo and questioned the appropriateness of such messaging for young audiences. Despite these criticisms, Baseload Capital’s leadership maintains that the book’s message is aligned with the broader goal of a rapid energy transition. CEO Alexander Helling has indicated that the story also targets investors and policymakers, highlighting how technologies developed in the fossil fuel sector are being repurposed to advance geothermal energy projects. This approach reflects a wider trend within the fossil fuel industry to engage younger generations and reshape its public image amid growing climate concerns.