On September 9, when news broke that one of the key provisions of state climate bill SB350 was being axed under pressure from the influential oil lobby, Sierra Club California Director Kathryn Phillips had this to say, “The oil industry declared war on humanity more than a decade ago when it led efforts to deny climate change. This year, they have spent untold dollars to try to defeat a reasonable goal to reduce California’s dependence on oil in the transportation sector and continue our transition to cleaner fuels and more choice in travel.”
She has a point. According to a recent Inside Climate News investigative report, oil companies have known about the risks of climate change for decades. "There is general scientific agreement that the most likely manner in which mankind is influencing the global climate is through carbon dioxide release from the burning of fossil fuels," a senior company scientist named James F. Black told Exxon's Management Committee back in July 1977. Exxon conducted early scientific research on climate change and could have used this knowledge to help the world solve this existential challenge. Instead, they have engaged in a long campaign of disinformation and deceit.
It is one thing to pursue oil development; it is quite another to interfere politically to undermine efforts to address climate change and the future livability of the planet. One is just business. The other is a threat to us all.