Ethics of energy industry in European countries

This study examines the phenomenon of greenwashing within the European energy sector, with a particular focus on major firms operating in the United Kingdom and Germany. Specifically, it investigates how shifts in U.K. policies and regulatory standards before and after Brexit have influenced the reporting practices of British energy companies. By conducting a longitudinal comparison of the same firms across the pre- and post-Brexit periods, as well as a cross-national comparison between post-Brexit U.K. firms and large German energy companies, the study seeks to identify systematic patterns of greenwashing. The research adopts a comparative methodological framework, integrating both qualitative and quantitative analyses. It draws on corporate ESG reports, which are cross-validated against investment ratios and third-party data sources to detect inconsistencies and potential overstatements in environmental claims. This approach facilitates the identification of greenwashing practices and enables an analysis of their manifestation under differing regulatory and institutional contexts.