Big Oil Strikes Back (Are We Surprised?)
As reported several times earlier, numerous state attorneys general have begun to explore the role that ExxonMobil played in covering up the truth about (possibly irreversible) climate change.
I can already hear the comments rolling in about how this investigation is fanciful, unfair, misguided, etc. All I can say is: 1) If true (and it appears to be), this is by far the most egregious act of corporate criminality in the 2000+ year-old history of the laws and governance of corporations, and 2) As to whether this is fanciful, we’ll see.
This from Public Citizen:
…..
But instead of coming clean, Exxon not only buried what it knew but actively encouraged and funded climate denialists.
And now that this epic scandal has at last come to light, who is the U.S. House of Representatives cracking down on?
Not, disgustingly, Exxon — which may well have perpetrated one of the greatest acts of corporate villainy of all time.
Rather, Big Oil’s puppets in Congress have initiated a witch hunt into the advocacy groups and government attorneys who are exposing Exxon!
Expansive thinkers realise that “serious minded, well qualified in the broad kindred subjects areas, and experienced professionals” interested in the greenhouse gas debate, most certainly do not consider mainstream alarmist and hysterical media or open forum blogs for example, as genuine information sources per se. And this Daily Mail posting is a perfect example of both alarmist and hysterical.
These two attributes alone render the posting irrelevant.
Another reason is that serious minded professionals globally all have a common understanding of the science of greenhouse gas emissions and its calamitous effects over time if left unchecked, and they also have a common understanding about the science of technological solutions and implementation methodologies that would solve this problem in accordance with a demanding timeline. There is no dissention about these critically important points. They are not therefore searching for irrelevant external to the core topic “noise”.
So who are those left out on a limb wafting around in the breeze? Of course it is those amongst us who haven’t yet developed a good “sniff meter” to help get us through the nonsensical and hysterical maze of largely irrelevant and misrepresented information exchange formats that many people seem to have been quite happily ensnared in over time, and that is most unfortunate as they are ripe candidates now to retreat into a fantasy world as passionate believers, that incessant bluster and irrelevant discourse, will be responsible for motivating and mobilising that small group globally who collectively possess the ingenuity, capability and authority, to take practical steps towards reversing problems like greenhouse gas emissions.
One helpful recommendation – refine your sniff meter. You will need it working well to survive the seemingly hysterical blogosphere era we live in, and in particular the increasingly hysterical energy sector debates.
Lawrence Coomber
Craig,
There is no “scandal” no “conspiracy” , this is just a waste of time and taxpayer money.
I know oil company haters (like yourself) want to create political capital from this non-issue, but it just won’t happen.
Who cares what some former CEO of Exxon thought or didn’t think 40 years ago ? So what if some of his scientists expounded a theory which others refuted ? Neither Exxon, nor it’s shareholders have suffered. You still fill your car with diesel despite electric alternatives being available for several years now.
The same experts informed Exxon that “peak oil” had occurred and Exxon should invest in alternatives before the scarcity of supply caused a downturn in revenue. The same experts predicted oil scarcity by the late eighties, but certainly before 2020. The also predicted a 2015 price of 240 dollars per barrel.
Fortunately, Exxon rejected this advice and America is enjoying an energy glut.
Sadly, thanks to the heavy politicization of this distraction, more people will become disenchanted with environmental issues.
By continually identifying environmental issues with political party agenda’s, environmental bi-partisanship and support suffers.
Marco, if multiple sources including privately funded studies and satirists like John Oliver have with due diligence concluded that Exxon has had in its possession, for decades, studies that drew a connection between oil and climate change at the very least some do not consider further investigation a “waste of time” and is not in every case spending public money.
We could say that something 40 years ago should “simply be forgotten” but the example of some crimes like the holocaust suggest that this is not how humanity treats “crimes against humanity.”
While electric vehicles are on the market, popular vehicles have not been manufactured in sufficient quantities to meet demand. Tesla has a backlog of about 2 years on its latest proposal. If tomorrow everyone decided they wanted an electric car or nothing a lot of people might have to walk for 5 to 10 years.
Technology has allowed world oil production to level off rather than decline in face of ever increasing demand. Some fear that this same technology is allowing us to pump the reserves faster rather than expand the reserves. There is a concern that world wide oil production could deviate in several ways from the gradual curve that was predicted by peak oil theory including the possibly of falling off sharply after a longer plateau.
Others say that if we produce all the oil that is estimated in the ground as reserves our world will be destroyed by the carbon that will be released. So perhaps rather than “crow” about the “glut” of oil a measure of circumspection might be more appropriate.
The past is not always a predictor of the future.
@ Breath on the Wind,
Despite the undoubted expertise of “privately funded studies and satirists “, the overwhelming majority of lawyers and jurists
(including reputable liberal lawyers) agree than Exxon has no case to answer.
It’s not a crime to prefer one set of experts over another, nor is Exxon obliged to publish private research. (Although over the years they did, and cooperated with many government bodies and academic institutions).
There just is no ‘crime’ ! It’s just a political beat up !
With the exception of Tesla’s narrow market sector, sadly EV sales are very unimpressive. EV demand almost disappears when Government incentives and subsidies are withdrawn or reduced.
There is nothing stopping your purchasing an EV tomorrow ! Your Federal, State and local authority will provide you with an excellent range of Tax cre4dits and incentives.
So, …what’s stopping you ? Your local Nissan, BMW, GM, Ford dealer has plenty of vehicles in stock. Except for really exotic models, Tesla will sell you a new model S without undue delay (even factory certified pre-owned vehicles are available.
So what’s stopping you ?