Brazil's State Oil Company Enlists Gen-Z Influencers In Greenwashing Campaign, Including (Really?) Algae Biofuels

In a recent Instagram reel, a Brazilian influencer known as “Mylly Biologando” grins at the camera after inspecting a test tube filled with something bubbling and green. It’s a microalgae that could “transform the future” as a source of less-polluting biodiesel fuel, explains Biologando, whose Instagram name roughly translates from Portuguese as “Biology-ing,” and who’s best known for light-hearted posts about natural science.

Biologando’s trip to the lab, and the video she posted to her half a million followers, are part of a public relations drive to portray the oil company backing the research, Petrobras, as committed to plans that, as she put it, “respect the environment, benefit society, and guarantee the energy that Brazil needs in an increasingly sustainable way.” With Brazil gearing up to host the latest round of global climate negotiations, known as COP30, in the Amazon city of Belém in November, Biologando (real name: Ramylly Mirna) is one of a squad of seven Gen-Z science, climate, and culture influencers working to cast Petrobras as a clean energy champion.

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Critics also point out that Petrobras’ plans to spend $16 billion on cleaning up its own emissions and researching low-carbon fuels by the end of the decade equates to less than a sixth of its nearly-$100 billion planned investment in fossil fuels. The company’s attempts to portray algae as a viable climate solution might not necessarily prove very convincing, either. In 2023, the United States-based oil major ExxonMobil — which had famously touted its algal biofuel research as a flagship green initiative — wound down its work in the field, leading many to conclude its experiments had never been more than a PR stunt.

In the light of these concerns, other environmental influencers have accused Petrobras of co-opting the very social media stars who should be helping to expose the company’s greenwashing — not aiding and abetting it. “Large extractive companies invest thousands in advertising to create a positive public image, which validates their environmentally destructive plans,” said Francisco Figueiredo, a columnist for the independent climate-focused publication O Eco, who said he turned down an offer to join the Petrobras squad. “If they see any value in my profile, it is because they feel I am capable of deceiving people in their favour.”

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https://www.desmog.com/2025/09/24/how-brazils-oil-giant-is-using-gen-z-science-and-climate-influencers-to-green-up-its-image/?utm_source=cbnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2025-09-25&utm_campaign=Daily+Briefing+China+s+new+climate+pledge+Newsom+blasts+Trump+Starmer+no+plans+for+COP30