An investigation into Exxon Mobil reveals that the company knew the environmental impact of its practices for nearly 40 years.
Former Vice President Al Gore is calling for an investigation into Exxon Mobil’s climate change research which revealed that Exxon knew of its environmental impact as much as 40 years ago. The report by InsideClimate News claims that the company gave “millions of dollars to groups that publicly denied global warming was real.”
Gore compared Exxon’s actions to that of the 1980’s era tobacco industry “when it denied that smoking could cause health problems.” Exxon, like the tobacco companies of yesteryear, values profits and lining the pockets of its investors over truth and transparency. The company’s long history of covering up the reality of climate change demonstrates that the unconscionable corporation looks out for number one at the expense of global health and well-being.
Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have joined Gore in the call for an investigation of the amoral corporation. It is no surprise that Republican candidates are not among those calling for justice as the stance of the GOP on climate change seems to be to ignore, deflect, and deny.
Of course Exxon has come out against the report, claiming that the allegations are inaccurate. An interesting statement coming from a company whose chief executive Rex W. Tillerson once quipped, “What good is it to save the planet if humanity suffers?” Of course, what Tillerson really means is “What good is it to save the planet if I am not benefited?”
For more on this story, visit NYTimes “Gore Calls for Exxon Mobil Inquiry on Climate Change.”
