{"id":4679,"date":"2015-12-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www-prod.greenpeace.org\/usa\/exxons-climate-denial-history-a-timeline\/"},"modified":"2024-12-10T16:28:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T16:28:54","slug":"exxons-climate-denial-history-a-timeline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/climate\/exxons-climate-denial-history-a-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Exxon’s Climate Denial History: A Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

A review of Exxon’s knowledge and subsequent denial of climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exxpose Exxon Protest 2006
An Exxon logo made of ice melts as Exxpose Exxon protesters hold signs outside the 2006 ExxonMobil Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at the Meyerson Symphony Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exxon made the news in September and October of 2015 when research produced by <\/span>InsideClimate News<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Los Angeles Times, and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism<\/span><\/a> revealed that Exxon had known since the 70s about the causes of climate change and the dangers climate disruption poses. The articles spurred a wave of actions against Exxon.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2015, the <\/span>New York state attorney general<\/span><\/a> announced an investigation into Exxon for disclosure violations. Presidential candidates <\/span>Hillary Clinton<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Bernie Sanders<\/span><\/a> called for a federal investigation into the company. And more than 350,000 Americans joined that call, petitioning the <\/span>Department of Justice<\/span><\/a> to investigate.<\/span><\/p>\n

The news has changed the game on fossil fuel companies and their role in climate denial. But Exxon\u2019s track record on climate science denial and climate double talk has been growing for some time. Check the timeline below for a rundown. <\/span>Along the way, note how global atmospheric carbon levels continue to rise past <\/span>350 parts per million<\/a>\u00a0(ppm),\u00a0<\/span>the level scientists say is safe for human civilization as we know it, while Exxon’s profits (in nominal dollars) continue to rise.<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

1957<\/b><\/h4>\n

Scientists working at Humble Oil (now ExxonMobil) publish a paper on the dilution of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and ocean. The paper notes: \u201cAlthough appreciable amounts of carbon dioxide have undoubtedly been added from soils by tilling of land, apparently a much greater amount has resulted from the combustion of fossil fuels\u201d–indicating company scientists understood the link between fossil fuel use and rising CO<\/span>2<\/span>. (Source: <\/span>Center for International Environmental Law<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1968 <\/b>(Global CO<\/b>2 <\/b>level: 323 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $1.2 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

In a report produced for the American Petroleum Institute, scientists Elmer Robinson and R.C. Robbins note that, among the possible sources of rising CO<\/span>2 <\/span>\u00a0in the atmosphere, \u201cnone seems to fit the presently observed situation as well as the fossil fuel emanation theory.\u201d The paper warns that significant rises in CO<\/span>2<\/span> could melt icecaps, increase sea levels, change fish distributions and increase plant photosynthesis. (Source: <\/span>Center for International Environmental Law<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1970s<\/h2>\n

1978 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 335 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $2.4 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

James Black, working under Exxon\u2019s Products Research Division, writes an internal briefing paper called \u201cThe Greenhouse Effect\u201d following from a 1977 presentation to Exxon\u2019s management committee. The paper warns that human-caused emissions could raise global temperatures and result in serious consequences. \u201cPresent thinking holds that man has a time window of five to ten years before the need for hard decisions regarding changes in energy strategies might become critical,\u201d Black writes <\/span>in his summary of the presentation<\/span><\/a>. (Source:<\/span>InsideClimate News<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1979<\/b><\/h4>\n

At the urging of an Exxon scientist, Henry Shaw, Exxon begins analyzing the absorption rate of carbon dioxide in the oceans, considered one of the key questions of climate science at the time. \u201cExxon must develop a credible scientific team that can critically evaluate the information generated on the subject and be able to carry bad news, if any, to the corporation,\u201d<\/span>Shaw wrote in a letter<\/span><\/a> to Exxon research executives. (Source: <\/span>InsideClimate News<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1979-1983<\/b><\/h4>\n

Major fossil fuel companies, including Exxon, Mobil, Amoco, Phillips, Texaco, Shell, Sunoco, Sohio and Standard Oil of California and Gulf Oil (two companies that became Chevron) meet regularly as part of a task force to discuss the science and implications of climate change. The meetings are organized with the help of the American Petroleum Institute. A <\/span>minutes document<\/span><\/a> from one of the meetings suggests that oil companies knew that climate change was occurring, and that they would bear some responsibility for managing it. (Source: <\/span>InsideClimate News<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1980s<\/h2>\n

1982 \u00a0(Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 341 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $4.2 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Exxon\u2019s Environmental Affairs Programs manager M.B. Glaser sends Exxon management a <\/span>primer on climate change<\/span><\/a>. The primer is \u201crestricted to Exxon personnel and not distributed externally.\u201d It describes \u201cpotentially catastrophic events\u201d if fossil fuel use is not reduced. (Source: <\/span>InsideClimate News<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1982<\/b><\/h4>\n

Roger Cohen<\/span><\/a>, director of the Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Laboratory at Exxon, <\/span>writes a memo<\/span><\/a> summarizing Exxon\u2019s climate modeling research. The memo states: \u201cThe consensus is that a doubling of atmospheric CO2 from its pre-industrial revolution value would result in an average global temperature rise of (3.0 \u00b1 1.5)\u00b0C [equal to 5.4 \u00b1 1.7\u00b0F]\u2026There is unanimous agreement in the scientific community that a temperature increase of this magnitude would bring about significant changes in the earth\u2019s climate, including rainfall distribution and alterations in the biosphere.\u201d Cohen would later become a <\/span>lead climate science denier<\/span> at an <\/span>Exxon-funded front group<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

1983 \u00a0(Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 343 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $5 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Exxon <\/span>cuts funding<\/span><\/a> for climate research from $900,000 per year to $150,000. Exxon\u2019s total research budget at the time was more than $600 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

1984<\/b><\/h4>\n

An <\/span>Exxon report<\/span><\/a> on the Natuna gas field in Indonesia warns that the project would be \u201cthe world\u2019s largest point source emitter of CO2 and raises concern for the possible incremental impact of Natuna on the CO2 greenhouse problem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

1988<\/b><\/h4>\n

The <\/span>United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)<\/span><\/a> is formed.<\/span><\/p>\n

1989<\/b><\/h4>\n

Shell announces<\/span><\/a> that it will redesign one of its natural gas platforms, raising it a meter or two to account for sea level rises resulting from climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

1989 \u00a0(Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 353 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $3.5 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Exxon and other fossil fuel companies create the <\/span>Global Climate Coalition<\/span><\/a> (GCC). The GCC is <\/span>created to oppose<\/span><\/a> mandatory reductions in carbon emissions by obscuring the scientific understanding of fossil fuels\u2019 impact on the climate. The GCC created a <\/span>scientific \u201cbackgrounder\u201d<\/span><\/a> for lawmakers and journalists that claimed \u201cThe role of greenhouse gases in climate change is not well understood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

1990s<\/h2>\n

1990<\/b><\/h4>\n

Dr. Brian Flannery, \u201crepresenting the International Petroleum Industries\u2019 Environmental Conservation Association, but on the payroll of Exxon,\u201d argues strongly against wording in the IPCC\u2019s first report, which states that global carbon emissions must be reduced 60 to 80 percent. Flannery argues that too much \u201cscientific uncertainty\u201d exists to recommend such reductions. IPCC scientists agree that enough certainty exists to justify the reductions, and the report moves forward. (<\/span>The Carbon War<\/span><\/i> by Jeremy Leggett<\/span><\/a>, cited in 2002 Greenpeace report, \u201c<\/span>Denial and Deception<\/span><\/a>\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

1992 \u00a0(Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 356 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $4.8 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

By 1992 Exxon has become a member of <\/span>American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)<\/span><\/a>, which actively undermines action on climate change at the federal and state levels. (Source: <\/span>Union of Concerned Scientists<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1993<\/b><\/h4>\n

Lee Raymond<\/span><\/a> becomes CEO of Exxon.<\/span><\/h4>\n

1995 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 361 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $6.5 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

The Global Climate Coalition distributes an <\/span>internal memo<\/span><\/a>, organized by Mobil chemical engineer and climate expert Leonard Bernstein, warning that the \u201cgreenhouse effect and the potential impact of human emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 on climate is well established and cannot be denied.\u201d Members of the coalition included BP, Chevron, Exxon, Mobil and Shell. (Source: <\/span>Union of Concerned Scientists<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

1996<\/b><\/h4>\n

In a speech to the Economic Club of Detroit, Lee Raymond <\/span>denies the scientific consensus<\/span><\/a> on climate change. Raymond claims that \u201cCurrently, the scientific evidence is inconclusive as to whether human activities are having a significant effect on the global climate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

1996<\/b><\/h4>\n

Mobil engineers, as a part of a project jointly owned by Mobil, Shell and a subsidiary of Exxon, note that \u201cAn estimated rise in water level, due to <\/span>global warming<\/span><\/a>, of 0.5 meters may be assumed\u201d in their planning for exploration and production facilities along the coast of Nova Scotia.<\/span><\/p>\n

October 1997 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 364 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $8.5 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Exxon CEO Lee Raymond tells the 15th World Petroleum Congress in Beijing that the world\u2019s climate isn\u2019t changing, and that even if it was, <\/span>fossil fuels<\/span><\/a> would play no part.<\/span><\/p>\n

April 1998<\/b><\/h4>\n

The New York Times, with documents leaked to the National Environmental Trust, reveals that the <\/span>American Petroleum Institute<\/span><\/a> is organizing a $5-million plan to challenge the science of climate change. Representatives of Exxon and Chevron are listed as participating in the plan. One line item of the plan is to \u201cIdentify, recruit and train a team of five independent scientists to participate in media outreach. These will be individuals who do not have a long history of visibility and\/or participation in the climate change debate. Rather, this team will consist of new faces who will add their voices to those recognized scientists who are already vocal\u201d (<\/span>p. 6<\/span><\/a> of Greenpeace report appendix).<\/span><\/p>\n

1998<\/b><\/h4>\n

ExxonMobil-funded think tank, the <\/span>George C. Marshall Institute<\/span><\/a>, co-publishes the \u201cOregon petition,\u201d a petition challenging the consensus around climate change. The petition comes with a \u201cresearch paper\u201d made in the style of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, confusing some legitimate scientists into signing the petition. Other <\/span>petition signatories<\/span><\/a>, suspiciously, include fictional characters from the TV show M.A.S.H. and Spice Girl \u201cDr.\u201d Geri Halliwell.<\/span><\/p>\n

1998<\/b><\/h4>\n

In its <\/span>proxy statement <\/span><\/a>to shareholders, Exxon reports that shareholders have requested the creation of an outside directors committee to independently review and publish \u201ca full report about the impact on climate change on our company\u2019s present policies and practices\u2026[including] anticipated liabilities our company may incur from its possible contribution to the problem\u2026\u201d Exxon\u2019s board recommends against the proposal, citing, among other things, that the science around climate change remains uncertain.<\/span><\/p>\n

1999<\/b><\/h4>\n

Exxon and Mobil <\/span>merge<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2000s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

2000 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 370 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $17.7 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

ExxonMobil publishes an ad, titled <\/span>\u201cUnsettled science,\u201d<\/span><\/a> highlighting a study showing a historical decrease in temperatures in the Sargasso Sea. CEO Lee Raymond presents the study at that year\u2019s shareholder meeting as evidence that fossil fuels may not be causing global warming. The author of the study, Lloyd Keigwin, later complains that <\/span>Exxon misused<\/span><\/a> the data: \u201cI believe ExxonMobil has been misleading in its use of the Sargasso Sea data. There\u2019s really no way these results bear on the question of human-induced climate warming\u2026I think the sad thing is that a company with the resources of ExxonMobil is exploiting the data for political purposes\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

January 2001<\/b><\/h4>\n

George W. Bush inaugurated as US president, with <\/span>$100,000 in inaugural funding from ExxonMobil<\/span><\/a>. Just days before Bush\u2019s inauguration, Exxon\u2019s publishes an advertisement titled <\/span>\u201cAn energy policy for the new administration<\/span><\/a>.\u201d The ad argues that \u201cthe unrealistic and economically damaging Kyoto process needs to be rethought.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

February 2001<\/h4>\n

The Bush White House receives <\/span>a letter from Exxon<\/span><\/a> asking if the administration can oust climate scientist Robert Watson from his position as chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Under Watson\u2019s chairmanship, the IPCC had released a number of reports linking climate change to human activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

March 2001<\/b><\/h4>\n

Bush administration announces <\/span>withdrawal<\/span><\/a> from the Kyoto Protocol.<\/span><\/p>\n

May 2001<\/b><\/h4>\n

The UK Stop Esso campaign <\/span>is launched<\/span><\/a>. The campaign is aimed at Exxon\u2019s subsidy Esso, and is a coalition effort that includes Greenpeace UK, People and Planet, and Friends of the Earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

2002 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 373 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $11.5 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

The GCC announces it is disbanding, <\/span>explaining<\/span><\/a> that the group \u201chas served its purpose by contributing to a new national approach to global warming. The Bush administration will soon announce a climate policy that is expected to rely on the development of new technologies to reduce greenhouse emissions, a concept strongly supported by the GCC.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

May 2002<\/b><\/h4>\n

Greenpeace USA launches the Stop ExxonMobil campaign. Over the following months, activist actions against Exxon stations <\/span>spread around the globe<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

May 2003<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Greenpeace Global Warming Crimes Unit <\/span>converges<\/span><\/a> on ExxonMobil\u2019s compound in Irving, Texas, to charge the oil giant with crimes against the climate.<\/span><\/p>\n

January 2004 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 377 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $25.3 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

ExxonMobil puts out a new ad titled, \u201c<\/span>Directions for climate research<\/span><\/a>.\u201d The ad argues for \u201cuncertainties that limit our current ability to know the extent to which humans are affecting climate and to predict future changes caused by both human and natural forces.\u201d The same month, Exxon\u2019s \u201c<\/span>Weather and climate<\/span><\/a>\u201d ad takes a similar tack, arguing that \u201cscientific uncertainties continue to limit our ability to make objective, quantitative determinations regarding the human role in recent climate change\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

June 2004<\/span><\/h4>\n

Greenpeace USA develops <\/span>www.exxonsecrets.org<\/span>, a website showing the links between Exxon money and some of the loudest climate deniers being quoted in the media. The website includes dossiers and fact sheets for each organization and person with a description, history, staff bios, quotes, deeds and hidden affiliations.<\/span><\/p>\n

July 2005<\/b><\/h4>\n

Environmental and public interest groups launch the <\/span>\u201cExxpose Exxon\u201d<\/span><\/a> campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

2006<\/b><\/h4>\n

Rex Tillerson<\/span><\/a> becomes Chief Executive Officer of Exxon.<\/span><\/p>\n

September 2006 <\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Royal Society, Britain\u2019s preeminent scientific organization, writes a letter to Exxon, inquiring into the company\u2019s promotion of <\/span>uncertainty around climate change<\/span><\/a> science. The letter comes after the Royal Society meets with Exxon to discuss its funding of climate-denying groups. Exxonpromised at a previous meeting with the Royal Society to stop the funding, but had not followed up after the meeting to explain how it would fulfill the pledge. Later that month, <\/span>it is reported<\/span><\/a> that Exxon has stopped funding the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a think tank that has actively undermined action on climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

2008 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 386 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $45.2 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Exxon\u2019s <\/span>2007 Corporate Citizenship Report<\/span><\/a> announces that the company will \u201cdiscontinue contributions to several public policy research groups whose position on climate change could divert attention from the important discussion on how the world will secure the energy required for economic growth in an environmentally responsible manner.\u201d In other words, it will stop funding climate-denying groups. Funding is cut to some climate-denying groups. <\/span>Funding to others continues<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2008<\/b><\/h4>\n

Greenpeace USA and other citizen groups launch the <\/span>\u201cStrike Out Exxon\u201d campaign<\/span><\/a>, aimed at stopping the company\u2019s advertisements at Nationals Stadium in Washington.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2010s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

June 2012<\/b><\/h4>\n

In response to questions following a speech delivered at the Council on Foreign Relations,ExxonMobil CEO <\/span>Rex Tillerson<\/span><\/a> suggests that while climate change is real, the solution would be to \u201cadapt\u201d: \u00a0\u00a0\u201c[A]s a species, that\u2019s why we\u2019re all still here. We have spent our entire existence adapting, OK? So we will adapt to this. Changes to weather patterns that move crop production areas around \u2014 we\u2019ll adapt to that. It\u2019s an engineering problem, and it has engineering solutions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

January 2013 (Global CO<\/span><\/b>2 <\/b>level: 396 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $32.6 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) pushes the \u201c<\/span>Environmental Literacy Improvement Act<\/span><\/a>\u201d in Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona. The model bill mandates teaching the \u201cweaknesses\u201d of the \u201cglobal warming\u2026 theory.\u201d ALEC received consistent funding from Exxon <\/span>since 1998<\/span>, and continues to <\/span>give to ALEC<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2014<\/b><\/h4>\n

Analysis of ExxonMobil Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments reports and ExxonMobil Foundation 990 tax forms reveals that Exxon <\/span>continues<\/span><\/a> to fund climate denier groups. Between 1998-2014, Exxon gave over <\/span>$30 million<\/span><\/a> to such groups (Source: <\/span>Greenpeace<\/span> and <\/span>Union of Concerned Scientists<\/span><\/a>). Since 2007, ExxonMobil has also donated<\/span> $1.87 million to Republicans in Congress<\/span><\/a> who deny climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

September 2014<\/b><\/h4>\n

Google\u2019s executive chairman Eric Schmidt announces that the company would not renew its membership to the American Legislative Exchange Council because ALEC is \u201c<\/span>literally lying<\/span><\/a>\u201d about the fact of climate change. As far as is known, Exxon remains <\/span>a member of ALEC, <\/span><\/a>serving on ALEC\u2019s <\/span>Private Enterprise Advisory Council<\/span><\/a> as of August 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

February 2015<\/b><\/h4>\n

Research by Greenpeace exposes <\/span>Willie Soon<\/span><\/a> as having failed to disclose that Exxon and other fossil fuel interests funded his research. Soon had served as one of the few climate deniers with a science background referenced by climate-denying politicians. The news further debunks Exxon\u2019s claim that the company had stopped funding climate deniers in 2007, as Exxon provided more than <\/span>$300,000 in funding<\/span><\/a> to Soon between 2005 and 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n

September 16, 2015 <\/b>(Global CO<\/b>2 <\/b>level: 401 ppm, Exxon annual profit: $16.2 billion)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

InsideClimate News <\/span>publishes<\/span><\/a> the first expos\u00e9 on Exxon\u2019s knowledge of climate change risks and how it responded. The article describes how management at Exxon learned about the potential risk of climate change as early as 1977 and invested in climate change research.<\/span><\/p>\n

October 9, 2015<\/h4>\n

The Los Angeles Times and Columbia University\u2019s Graduate School of Journalism <\/span>publish<\/span><\/a> a story about Exxon\u2019s knowledge of climate threats to the Arctic, including models to anticipate impacts on Arctic operations that Exxon executives such as Lee Raymond would publicly dismiss.<\/span><\/p>\n

October 14, 2015<\/h4>\n

U.S. Representatives Ted Lieu and Mark DeSaulnier <\/span>request<\/span><\/a> that the U.S. Department of Justice launch an investigation into whether Exxon violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) as well as laws on consumer protection, truth in advertising, public health, and shareholder protection.<\/span><\/p>\n

November 4, 2015<\/h4>\n

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman <\/span>opens an investigation<\/span><\/a> into Exxon over whether the company has lied about what it knew about climate change. The AG issues a subpoena to Exxon demanding in-house documents.<\/span><\/p>\n

November 20, 2015<\/h4>\n

Exxon Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Kenneth P. Cohen sends a <\/span>letter to Columbia University<\/span><\/a>, accusing members of the Graduate School of Journalism \u00a0of violating the school\u2019s ethics policies \u00a0regarding the recent articles regarding Exxon\u2019s \u00a0climate change-related research going back to \u00a0the 1970s. The Dean of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Steve Coll, \u00a0issues a response<\/span> defending the articles<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

November 23 and 30, 2015<\/h4>\n

A study in the <\/span>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences<\/span><\/a> finds that organizations that received funding from corporations like Exxon were more likely to argue against climate change science than organizations that did not receive such funding. Another study in <\/span>Nature Climate Change<\/span><\/a> finds that climate-denying organizations funded by Exxon and the Koch brothers are the most successful at inserting climate denialism into media stories.<\/span><\/p>\n

January 2016<\/h4>\n

The U.S. Department of Justice refers the case of Exxon\u2019s advocacy around climate change to the <\/span>FBI<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

January 20, 2016<\/h4>\n

The Los Angeles Times <\/span>reports<\/span><\/a> that California\u2019s Attorney General is investigating Exxon over whether the company committed securities fraud or violated environmental laws by lying about what it knew about climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

March 29, 2016<\/h4>\n

A coalition of 17 Attorneys General and AG officials <\/span>announces<\/span><\/a> their support for President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. As part of the event, the AGs of Massachusetts and the U.S. Virgin Islands announce that they are <\/span>investigating Exxon<\/span><\/a>\u2019s actions regarding climate change. Top officials from Vermont, Maryland, Virginia and Connecticut say fossil fuel companies would be held accountable for illegal activities around climate change, although they do not announce investigations.<\/span><\/p>\n

May 18, 2016<\/h4>\n

13 Representatives sitting on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee send letters to <\/span>17 state Attorneys General<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>8 non-governmental organizations<\/span><\/a>, including <\/span>Greenpeace<\/span><\/a>. The letters accuse the agencies and organizations of tampering with companies\u2019, organizations\u2019 and individuals\u2019 <\/span>rights to free speech<\/span><\/a>. Greenpeace USA Executive Director Annie Leonard responds that \u201c<\/span>America\u2019s least-respected <\/span>politicians<\/span><\/a> have now courageously stepped up to defend one of America\u2019s <\/span>most-hated corporations<\/span><\/a> from <\/span>scrutiny<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Data from Oil Change International shows that the 13 Representatives who sent the letter have received <\/span>$2,848,418 in <\/span>campaign contributions<\/span><\/a> from coal, oil and gas companies since 1999.<\/span><\/p>\n

May 25, 2016<\/h4>\n

Exxon holds its annual shareholders meeting in Dallas. The board confronts 14 proposed resolutions from shareholders, 10 of which are climate-related. All climate change resolutions are voted down. However, a resolution requiring Exxon to report on the impacts to its business from <\/span>climate policy<\/span><\/a> receives a substantial 38% vote of support, and a separate resolution passes allowing shareholders to vote in a portion of Exxon\u2019s <\/span>board of directors<\/span><\/a>. This presents the possibility of getting a climate expert on Exxon\u2019s board.<\/span><\/p>\n

June 1<\/h4>\n

Greenpeace USA, other NGOs and the Maryland Attorney General reject the authority of Congressional representatives\u2019 <\/span>inquiry<\/span><\/a>. Greenpeace notes the \u201c\u2018irony\u2019 that [the] committee, in the name of protecting ExxonMobil\u2019s free speech, would \u2018examine\u2019 the free speech of environmental groups.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

June 9<\/h4>\n

Nineteen members of California\u2019s <\/span>Congressional delegation<\/span><\/a> send a letter of support to California Attorney General Kamala Harris, encouraging her investigation into Exxon despite pressure from the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee to stop.<\/span><\/p>\n

June 29<\/h4>\n

The Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands agrees to withdraw his subpoena of Exxon, after Exxon sues the U.S. territory for what the company claims are violations of First and Fourth Amendment rights. The agreement does not prevent the U.S. Virgin Islands from <\/span>subpoenaing<\/span><\/a> Exxon in the future. Exxon had also sued the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s office based on similar arguments, but Massachusetts continues to fight the lawsuit.<\/span><\/p>\n

July 6<\/h4>\n

Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), implies he will <\/span>subpoena<\/span> the 17 Attorneys General and 8 NGOs if they do not reply to the Committee\u2019s earlier request for their communication records. Greenpeace and 350.org respond by demanding that Congressman Smith and the involved Committee members <\/span>reveal their connections<\/span><\/a> to the fossil fuel industry, which has given Smith <\/span>and the other members <\/span>$2,848,418 in <\/span>campaign contributions<\/span><\/a> since 1999.<\/span><\/p>\n

July 11<\/h4>\n

19 Senate democrats use the chamber floor to highlight the fossil fuel industry\u2019s–including ExxonMobil\u2019s–\u201c<\/span>web of denial<\/span><\/a>\u201d around climate change. The same day Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduce a resolution arguing that fossil fuel companies created a \u201c<\/span>misinformation campaign to mislead the public and cast doubt in order to protect their financial interest.”<\/span><\/p>\n

July 13<\/h4>\n

Congressman Smith subpoenas the offices of the New York and Massachusetts AGs and 8 NGOs, including <\/span>Greenpeace<\/span><\/a>, with a deadline to respond by July 27.<\/span><\/p>\n

July 27<\/h4>\n

Attorneys General Schneiderman and Healey, as well as Greenpeace and other NGOs, <\/span>refuse to respond<\/span><\/a> to the subpoena. \u201cThe American people know this Congressional subpoena is Rep. Smith’s signature move to turn attention away from the real issue at stake, which is the investigations into Exxon’s climate denial,\u201d says Greenpeace Executive director Annie Leonard.<\/span><\/p>\n

August 20<\/h4>\n

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says in an interview with the New York Times that his office’s investigation into Exxon is focused less on what the company knew about climate change years ago, and more on whether the company in recent years failed to report the potential impact of climate change regulations on its future business. In other words, the AG’s office is conducting “a straightforward fraud investigation<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

September 20<\/h4>\n

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating whether Exxon<\/a> failed to publicly report the potential impact of climate regulations on its future business–the type of investigation<\/a> also being conducted by the New York Attorney General. The Wall Street Journal reports that the SEC is also investigating whether Exxon failed to “de-book” some of its oil and gas reserves in the face of low oil prices–in other words, that Exxon has been claiming valuable assets that it does not actually have, given the poor state of the oil and gas industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A review of Exxon’s knowledge and subsequent denial of climate change. An Exxon logo made of ice melts as Exxpose Exxon protesters hold signs outside the 2006 ExxonMobil Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at the Meyerson Symphony Center. 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