The oil group Total announced Friday its withdrawal from the professional federation American Petroleum Institute (API), citing differences on several subjects.

Total explained that it evaluates the professional associations to which the group belongs each year to ensure that they are aligned with its positions on the climate. In 2019 and 2020, this assessment showed that API's positions were only "partially aligned" with those of Total, the company said in a statement.

The French group cites differences on several subjects. Total mentions the American regulations on methane emissions, which API supports unlike the French company, or API's membership of the "Transportation Fairness Alliance", which opposes support for electric vehicles, according to Total. The oil major also explains that it expresses "positions far removed" from those of the API on the principle of carbon pricing.

"Furthermore, the API got involved in the recent elections in favor of candidates who had spoken out against the support of the United States for the Paris Agreement", also underlined Total.

"The group recognizes the considerable contribution of the API for more than a century in the development of our industry", declared the CEO of Total, Patrick Pouyanné, quoted in a press release. "Nevertheless, as part of our Climate Ambition published in May 2020, we are committed to ensuring, in a transparent manner, that the professional associations to which we belong carry positions and messages aligned with those of the group in the fight against global warming. climate", continued the leader.

Contacted by agency Agefi-Dow Jones, the API was not immediately available for comment.