Exxon Spends Millions to Cast Doubt on Global Warming...

[marmar]

Big Oil is a pox on the planet! (My rant) :rant:

Published on Thursday, December 7, 2006 by the Independent / UK
Exxon Spends Millions to Cast Doubt on Warming
by Andrew Buncombe in Washington and Stephen Castle in Brussels

The world's largest energy company is still spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund European organisations that seek to cast doubt on the scientific consensus on global warming and undermine support for legislation to curb emission of greenhouse gases.
Data collated by a Brussels-based watchdog reveals that ExxonMobil has put money into projects that criticise the Kyoto treaty and question the findings of scientific groups. Environmental campaigners say Texas-based Exxon is trying to influence opinion-makers in Brussels because Europe - rather than the US - is the driving force for action on climate change.

"ExxonMobil invests significant amounts in letting think-tanks, seemingly respectable sources, sow doubts about the need for EU governments to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Olivier Hoedeman, of the Corporate Europe Observatory. "Covert funding for climate sceptics is deeply hypocritical because ExxonMobil spends major sums on advertising to present itself as an environmentally responsible company."

It has long been known that the oil giant, which in 2005 recorded an all-time record for quarterly income, has spent millions of dollars to fund climate sceptics. Exactly how much is unknown but some estimates suggest $19m (£9.7m) since 1998.

In its 2005 report, Mr Hoedeman's group details payments by ExxonMobil to two organisations the International Policy Network, which received $130,000 and the Centre for the New Europe (CNE), which received $50,000.

The Observatory suspects Exxon has also funded other groups engaged in undermining legislation. Its report said: "There is mounting evidence that many EU-focused think-tanks are heavily funded by corporations and this raises serious concerns about their agenda and their independence." The two groups cited in the report have long been accused of denying climate change. Greenpeace's ExxonSecret website notes that in 2004 the network issued a press release criticising the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, saying it had "intentionally exaggerated its estimates of temperature increases by using highly implausible scenarios of future growth in emissions of greenhouse gases".

Greenpeace also lists a 2004 posting on CNE's website which claimed: "The Kyoto Protocol is failing because it is ineffective, costly, and unfair. It is also 'scientifically flawed'.". .........

The rest is at: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1207-04.htm

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. no wonder they need all those tax breaks.

how else will they pay for the molding of science and opinion?

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. True

[dysfunctional press]

3. oil and energy companies should be nationalized.

it's going to be...entertaining(?) to watch the world pay for the excesses of the american way of life, as global warming really begins to take hold.

[marmar]

5. I agree 100%

I see nothing wrong with the nationalization of some industries, and energy is one of them. Maybe then it would be easier to push for renewable energy sources.

[jwirr]

8. I agree. With oil peak coming closer and global warming advancing

this would be one way to use this resource in a responsible way. It would also be cheaper because they would not have to spend so much on pr and propaganda.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. K&R

[Double T]

6. Criminal corporations commit fraud and conspiracy to protect their turf.......

and their almighty mega-dollars.

[marmar]

7. Yes. And Exxon has to be one of the biggest corporate criminals of all time....

:think:

[Telly Savalas]

9. Royal Dutch Shell's CEO recently pressed the U.S. to adopt Kyoto

http://www.forbes.com/2006/12/05/shell-kyoto-ceo-face-cx_cn_1205autofacescan02.html

Big Oil executives are smart enough to accept the reality of climate change. And unlike those at Exxon, some are even smart enough to realize that it's a good PR move to publicly acknowledge this reality. It is pretty alarming however, when the CEO of a major oil company is a more ardent advocate of environmental protection than the president of the United States.

Speaking of Kyoto, can our newly elected Democratic Congress be bothered to press the White House to hop on board?

[marmar]

10. "when the CEO of a major oil company is a more ardent advocate of environmental protection"

Ain't that the truth.

[Gregorian]

11. I guess I'll have to post this then...

Not mine. I stole it. And hotlinked it. Guilty as charged.

[Quantess]

12. We might get leaded gasoline back, too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2643590

[warrens]

13. Boy...cott

I have been using any other source than ExxonMobil, even for a soda. They're evil.

[Quantess]

14. Have you seen this site?

http://www.exxposeexxon.com/

I found it just now. I was searching to find out what stations are Exxon. (As in, what are the names of their gas stations). Is Chevron?