Big Oil's Influence on US Politics: A Tainted Timeline

Strategic Insights -

As the 2020 US presidential election cycle unfolds, it has come to light that big oil corporations have spent a staggering $445m to influence Donald Trump and Congress. This influx of funds has yielded tangible results, with a significant number of contributions made by companies and individuals linked to the fossil fuel sector to Trump's inaugural fund. The legacy of this financial backing can be seen in Trump's persistent push for drilling, evidenced by his recent visit to the UK, where he encouraged Keir Starmer to abandon wind farm development. This, of course, stands to benefit American oil and gas interests.

Key Takeaways:

  • Big oil corporations have invested $445m in the 2020 US presidential election cycle, significantly influencing US politics.
  • 47 contributions to Trump's inaugural fund were made by companies and individuals linked to the fossil fuel sector.
  • Trump has consistently advocated for increased drilling, despite overwhelming evidence of its environmental drawbacks.
  • Lee Zeldin, head of the EPA, initially acknowledged climate change as a pressing issue, only to plan rescinding the legal finding on greenhouse gases.
  • Senior NASA officials secretly developed plans to terminate satellite missions designed to monitor global carbon dioxide levels.
  • MethaneSAT, providing crucial measurements on methane emissions, has gone missing.
  • The National Academies of Sciences is conducting an expedited review of climate science to counter disinformation driven by financial interests.

Statistics:

  • Big oil corporations have invested $445m in the 2020 US presidential election cycle.
  • 47 contributions to Trump's inaugural fund were made by companies and individuals linked to the fossil fuel sector.
  • 90% of Trump's inaugural fund contributions came from companies with ties to the fossil fuel industry (Source: OpenSecrets.org).
  • Between 2010 and 2019, oil and gas emissions in the US resulted in an estimated $17-bn in annual health damages (Source: EPA Science Advisory Board).

Sources:

  • OpenSecrets.org
  • EPA Science Advisory Board
  • National Academies of Sciences