New York: The oil industry’s public relations strategy has evolved from denial of climate science to “disinformation and doublespeak” to counter meaningful environmental policies, Democrats in the US Congress said in a report on Tuesday.
The report accuses oil giants such as ExxonMobil and Chevron, as well as industry trade groups, of waging a long-running campaign to advance the industry’s interests at the expense of the planet.
“Big oil companies have waged campaigns to confuse and mislead the public while working tirelessly to lock in a fossil fuel-based future,” said Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, co-author of the report. relationship with Democratic Senator from Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse.
“Big oil companies continue to conceal the facts about their business model and obscure the real dangers of fossil fuels, including natural gas, in order to block the climate action we need,” Raskin said.
The report – and documented evidence released alongside it by lawmakers – presents decades-old analyzes by oil industry scientists warning of climate change that were sidelined or downplayed in favor of communications industry that focused on the uncertainty surrounding climate science.
As the industry has changed course in response to the growing scientific consensus on climate change, the oil companies’ approach has evolved from “denial of climate science to the spread of misinformation and the perpetuation of a double discourse on natural gas security and the industry’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. the report said.
Examples of “confusing and misleading narratives” propagated by industry include publicly supporting carbon capture technology, while privately calling it too expensive without significant government support.
The American Petroleum Institute, targeted by the report alongside some oil companies, defended the balance between the industry’s environmental and economic priorities.
“At a time of persistent inflation and geopolitical instability, our country needs more American energy – including more oil and natural gas – and less baseless election-year rhetoric,” he said. declared an API spokesperson.
“America’s energy workers are working to provide the reliable, affordable oil and natural gas Americans demand, while developing the next generation of low-carbon technologies, like hydrogen and carbon capture, and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate.”
