social licence watchdogs

the social licence watchdogs are a fictitious debt collection agency that pvi have created. their aim is to drive ambitious climate responsibility in the fossil energy sector, by holding it financially accountable for its damage to the planet.

on the 14th aug 2024, the watchdogs invoiced five major carbon polluters in australia for the true cost of their co2 emissions by hand delivering giant [8ft] invoices into their corporate foyers. inpex, bhp, chevron and woodside’s debts to society totalled hundreds of billions of dollars, so naturally, the size of the invoices were indicative of the massive amounts owing.

the debt was calculated using a very real mathematical equation called ‘the social cost of carbon’ which measures the social and environmental impact of one additional metric tonne of co2 released into the atmosphere in monetary terms.

each company has been given a standard 21 days to settle their bill. if they are experiencing financial hardship, the social licence watchdogs have a payment hotline number to call for arranging an instalment plan.

any invoice outstanding after 14 days will result in that company unfortunately having their ‘social licence to operate’ revoked and symbolically shredded by the watchdogs.

check out the watchdogs webpage here to follow how we went.
the countdown is on.
will they pay what they truly owe?

the social licence watchdogs invoices will be available for public viewing at:
the art gallery of western australia from 21st august – 9th september 2024.