WASHINGTON DC (Sept. 15, 2022)–This week:
- U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations explored the role of PR companies in helping the oil and gas industry greenwash its image and deceive the public about climate change;
- the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties looked into the industry’s use of SLAPP suits to target environmental protectors; and
- the U.S. House Oversight and Reform examined Exxon, Chevron, BP, and Shell’s record-breaking profits, discussed the adequacy of their climate pledges, and heard firsthand accounts from survivors of climate change-induced severe weather events.
This all occurs as Senators Manchin and Schumer continue to push a Dirty Deal that would give the same oil and gas industry that is being investigated more power to potentially pollute our communities and drag us towards climate catastrophe.
In response, Anusha Narayanan, climate campaign director at Greenpeace USA said: “This week three Congressional committees held hearings investigating Big Oil’s shady tactics to delay climate action, silence those who protect their communities, and sacrifice lives to grow their profits. Meanwhile, Manchin and Schumer are trying to push through a Dirty Deal that benefits the same industry. The provisions in the Dirty Deal — gutting environmental reviews and public comments, fast tracking pollution-heavy oil, gas, and coal projects, and locking communities into decades of health risks — are unpopular. Over 70 members of Congress have already come out in opposition of the deal. And yet two Senators are attempting to aggressively force the deal into the Continuing Resolution. This tactic is an undemocratic attempt to circumvent voters and hold hostage any elected official who is concerned with the impacts it would have on people and the planet. These backroom, insider deals are how Big Oil plans to keep its power in the face of overwhelming support for climate action. Senators Manchin and Schumer must end their attempts to push through a compromised Continuing Resolution and pass one that is free of handouts to the oil and gas industry.”
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Photos:
Stop the Dirty Deal truck in DC: https://media.greenpeace.org/shoot/27MDHUF3EA0Z
Activists send a message to Congress to Stop The Dirty Deal: https://media.greenpeace.org/shoot/27MDHUF33KKJ
Media contact: Tyler Kruse, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected], 808-741-2791
Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
