ExxonMobil Accused of Funding Climate Change Denial Efforts

A report by the liberal advocacy group Union of Concerned Scientists alleges that ExxonMobil Corp. has funded a $16 million campaign to create doubt about the scientific underpinnings of climate change theory. The report claims that the company has given millions of dollars to 43 organizations that question the validity of scientific findings about climate change. ExxonMobil has denied the allegations, stating that the report is an attempt to "smear our name and confuse the discussion" on global warming.

Key Takeaways:

• ExxonMobil has allegedly funded a $16 million campaign to create doubt about climate change theory, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists report.
• The company has given millions of dollars to 43 organizations that question the validity of scientific findings about climate change.
• ExxonMobil uses "seemingly independent front organizations" and its access to the Bush administration to shape government policy towards global warming.
• The company lists on its Web site nearly $133 million in 2005 contributions globally, including $6.8 million for "public information and policy research".
• Some of the recipients of ExxonMobil's funding have publicly disputed any link between greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
• The outcome of a Supreme Court ruling on whether the Environmental Protection Agency can control carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases may have a significant impact on climate change policy.
• The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will issue its fourth scientific assessment early next month.
• Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has stated that she will hold lengthy hearings on climate change as soon as she becomes the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Statistics:

• $16 million: the alleged amount of funding ExxonMobil has provided to climate change denial efforts, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists report.
• $133 million: the amount that ExxonMobil contributed to various organizations and initiatives worldwide in 2005.
• $6.8 million: the amount of ExxonMobil's 2005 contributions that went towards "public information and policy research".
• 43: the number of organizations that ExxonMobil allegedly funded to create doubt about climate change.
• 63: the number of pages in the Union of Concerned Scientists report "Smoke, Mirrors and Hot Air".

Sources:

• Union of Concerned Scientists, "Smoke, Mirrors and Hot Air"
• Washington The liberal advocacy group Union of Concerned Scientists (no date)
• ExxonMobil Corp., ExxonMobil 2005 Contributions