Environmental Campaigners Demand Federal Investigation into ExxonMobil's Alleged Climate Change Cover-Up

Strategic Insights -

US environmental campaigners, climate scientists, and other organizations have joined forces to call for a federal investigation into allegations that ExxonMobil covered up the truth about climate change. The demands follow revelations that the company knew about the dangers of climate change as early as the 1970s but chose to mislead the public to maximize profits from fossil fuels. The investigation is sought to address the damage already occurred and to be done by climate change, particularly in impoverished communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • 49 campaign groups, including 350.org, Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth, and the Sierra Club, have signed a letter calling for a federal investigation into ExxonMobil's alleged climate change cover-up.
  • The groups charge that ExxonMobil knowingly funded efforts at climate denial and systematically misled the public about the dangers of climate change.
  • James Hansen, a renowned climate scientist and former NASA researcher, has signed the letter, citing the company's " deception over global warming and the influence of humankind and fossil fuels".
  • The investigation is sought to address the damage already occurred and to be done by climate change, particularly in impoverished communities.
  • Members of Congress, including Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, have called for a federal investigation into ExxonMobil's alleged cover-up.
  • The companies' CEO, Rex Tillerson, has denied any wrongdoing.

Statistics:

  • ExxonMobil allegedly knew about the dangers of climate change as early as the 1970s.
  • The company is accused of systematically misleading the public about the dangers of climate change.
  • 49 campaign groups have signed the letter calling for a federal investigation.
  • James Hansen has over 30 years of experience as a climate researcher for NASA.
  • The investigation is sought to address the damage already occurred and to be done by climate change, particularly in impoverished communities.

Sources:

  • "Letter from 350.org and Environmental Campaigners to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch"
  • Inside Climate News
  • Los Angeles Times
  • Bill McKibben, "Imagine if Exxon had told the truth on climate change"
  • Related article, "Exxon's climate change denial warrants federal inquiry, congressmen say"