{"id":50377,"date":"2021-11-02T21:18:13","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T20:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=50377"},"modified":"2025-07-02T09:38:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:38:26","slug":"big-oil-greenwashing-climate-denial-us-congress-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/50377\/big-oil-greenwashing-climate-denial-us-congress-hearing\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Oil only pledges to help itself"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"EmptyMessage\">Block content is empty. Check the block&#8217;s settings or remove it.<\/div>\n<p>It would have been the least they could do. But they still couldn&#8217;t do it.<\/p>\n\n<p>Given the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/press-release\/49125\/ipcc-report-signals-decisive-moment-for-humanity-urgent-climate-action-needed\/\">existential stakes of the climate crisis<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/48654\/heatwaves-climate-change-fossil-fuels-must-go\/\">life-threatening impacts<\/a> already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/49309\/new-york-city-flooding-climate-change-crisis\/\">harming communities<\/a> everywhere, it would seem that simply asking someone NOT to interfere with climate solutions wouldn&#8217;t be asking too much.<\/p>\n\n<p>Well, it was for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/news\/big-oil-congressional-hearing-greenpeace-usa-statement\/\">Big Oil executives who testified before a U.S. Congressional Oversight Committee<\/a> in Washington, DC on 28 October.<\/p>\n\n<p>Leaders of ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell Oil, American Petroleum Institute, and the US Chamber of Commerce (the latter two being prominent lobbying groups) wouldn&#8217;t pledge to stop spending money blatantly opposing efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Big Oil CEOs unanimously refuse to pledge to Congress to &quot;no longer spend any money directly or indirectly to oppose efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change&quot;.<br><br>What happened to being &quot;committed to being part of the solution&quot;? (Exxon CEO, 10 mins prior) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SlipperySix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SlipperySix<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nKBZNnnl1E\">pic.twitter.com\/nKBZNnnl1E<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Geoffrey Supran (@GeoffreySupran) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GeoffreySupran\/status\/1453757422309363720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<p>Instead, the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SlipperySix\">#SlipperySix<\/a> \u2014 as these executives have been dubbed on social media for their disingenuous tactics \u2014 appeared to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jamieclimate\/status\/1453794856074108936\">remain committed<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmog.com\/2019\/03\/22\/paris-oil-exxon-chevron-bp-total-shell-billion-climate-lobbying-advertising-influencemap\/\">greenwashing their climate-wrecking industry<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jamieclimate\/status\/1453741162154663942\">spreading disinformation<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_MikeMeno\/status\/1453812342953754628\">continuing to lobby<\/a> against the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/49733\/climate-action-cant-wait-11-actions-must-take-now\/\">meaningful climate action we need<\/a>. Even more disturbing, the executives largely <a href=\"https:\/\/grist.org\/politics\/climate-denial-oil-executives-play-dumb-major-congressional-hearing\/\">pretended either to be unaware<\/a> of or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2021\/oct\/28\/exxon-ceo-accused-lying-climate-science-congressional-panel?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other\">blameless for all the climate science denial<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/10\/27\/1047583610\/once-again-the-u-s-has-failed-to-take-sweeping-climate-action-heres-why\">disinformation<\/a> that their companies have been responsible for up until now.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Shell, Exxon, BP and Chevron\u2019s executives just all denied that they\u2019d ever approved climate disinformation campaigns. <br><br>They\u2019re lying. <br><br>100% of their advertising is about misleading the public about this crisis and what needs to be done. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SlipperySix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SlipperySix<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/K9JoY0J7Jl\">pic.twitter.com\/K9JoY0J7Jl<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Jamie Henn (@jamieclimate) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jamieclimate\/status\/1453756662859419649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<p>Juxtaposed against the evasive behaviors of the CEOs during this hearing was the candid account previously given by a senior lobbyist for Exxon of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.channel4.com\/news\/revealed-exxonmobils-lobbying-war-on-climate-change-legislation\">how the oil giant was working to drastically reduce the scope of climate legislation<\/a> in the US. The <a href=\"https:\/\/unearthed.greenpeace.org\/2021\/06\/30\/exxon-climate-change-undercover\/\">video obtained by Unearthed<\/a>, Greenpeace UK\u2019s investigative journalism platform, was released in June and was among the catalysts for these executives being summoned to testify.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">REVEALED: How Exxon held back climate action for decades, and is still doing it today. We went undercover with Exxon\u2019s lobbyists to expose the truth. Watch and share. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yICeai1Sop\">pic.twitter.com\/yICeai1Sop<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Unearthed (@UE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UE\/status\/1410300881761882112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 30, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<p>In perhaps one of the most important admissions of the six-hour hearing, Exxon\u2019s Darren Woods affirmed the reporting of Unearthed by <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/energy-environment\/578983-exxon-ceo-says-he-had-calls-with-lawmakers-on-reconciliation\">admitting that he did contact members of the US congress<\/a> relating to a bill that could \u2014 and should \u2014 include major climate provisions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>GIven the lack of cooperation from the executives, Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York, the chairwoman of the Oversight Committee, announced at the end of the hearing that she will issue <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/cop\/us-congress-puts-big-oil-hot-seat-climate-deception-probe-2021-10-28\/\">subpoenas to the oil companies and lobbying groups<\/a> represented for internal documents related to spending to mislead the public on global warming.<\/p>\n\n<p>While it may come as no surprise that Big Oil is not the solution to the problem that it created, there are clear actions we can take to end the fossil fuel era:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>Greenpeace USA is calling on Senators to <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.us.greenpeace.org\/onlineactions\/lj3knV4CTESiJkhoPc6QWA2?utm_source=instagram&amp;utm_medium=post&amp;utm_campaign=211001_senatepivotsbds_izzzzzzzaacz&amp;sourceid=1011422&amp;_ga=2.84393881.1456992164.1635456900-31654937.1568646141\">end fossil fuel subsidies and to support the climate provisions<\/a> in the Build Back Better Act.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>More than 75,000 people have already signed onto a petition calling for a European Union-wide <a href=\"https:\/\/act.greenpeace.org\/page\/85501\/petition\/1\">ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorships<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>Meanwhile, world leaders will be gathered for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/campaign\/cop26\/\">COP26<\/a> in Glasgow from 31 October through 12 November with the opportunity \u2014 and responsibility \u2014 to signal a clear end to the fossil fuel era. In a promising sign that false solutions and greenwashing won\u2019t derail these important talks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/oil-companies-to-be-sidelined-at-u-n-s-climate-conference-11632130201\">the presence of oil companies such as BP and Shell will be limited at COP26<\/a> by the UK\u2019s requirement for detailed emissions-reduction plans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>The challenges we face are huge. But people power can accomplish the urgent actions we need!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AOC<\/a> to Big Oil CEOs: I think one thing that often gets lost in these conversations is that some of us have to actually live the future that you all are setting on fire. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ppJfch6Bgq\">pic.twitter.com\/ppJfch6Bgq<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Public_Citizen\/status\/1453798519047868422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Given the global stakes of the climate crisis, it would seem that simply asking someone NOT to interfere with climate solutions wouldn&#8217;t be asking too much.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105,"featured_media":50384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"not set","p4_local_project":"COP26","p4_basket_name":"not set","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[87,89],"p4-page-type":[59],"class_list":["post-50377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy","tag-oil","tag-climate","p4-page-type-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50377"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76678,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50377\/revisions\/76678"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50377"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=50377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}