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Fueling the Climate Crisis: Exposing Big Oil’s Disinformation Campaign to Prevent Climate Action

Meeting Status:
Rescheduled
Date:
Location:
Capitol Complex, 2154 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney's Opening Statement [PDF]

Washington D.C. (October 22, 2021)— On Thursday, October 28, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. ET, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Ro Khanna, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Environment, will hold a hearing(link is external) to examine the fossil fuel industry’s long-running, industry-wide campaign to spread disinformation about the role of fossil fuels in causing global warming. 

 

The fossil fuel industry has had scientific evidence(link is external) about the dangers of climate change since at least 1977.  Yet for decades, the industry spread denial(link is external) and doubt(link is external) about the harm of its products—undermining the science and preventing meaningful action on climate change even as the global climate crisis became increasingly dire(link is external), and its deadly impact(link is external) on Americans increased. 

 

More recently, some large fossil fuel companies took public(link is external) stances(link is external) in support of climate actions while privately continuing to block(link is external) reforms, invest(link is external) overwhelmingly in fossil fuel extraction, and support(link is external) efforts to extend the life of fossil fuel investments.  The industry reportedly spends billions(link is external) to promote climate disinformation through branding and lobbying.   Moreover, they increasingly outsource lobbying(link is external) to trade groups, obscuring their own roles in disinformation efforts. 

 

On September 16, 2021, the Chairs sent letters to top fossil fuel executives requesting documents and communications related to their organization’s role in supporting disinformation and misleading the public to prevent action on the climate crisis.  To date, all the fossil fuel entities have failed to adequately comply with the Committee’s request.

Witnesses

WITNESSES

Mr. Darren Woods

Chief Executive Officer

ExxonMobil Corporation                   

           

Mr. David Lawler

Chief Executive Officer

BP America Inc.

 

Mr. Michael K. Wirth

Chief Executive Officer

Chevron Corporation

 

Ms. Gretchen Watkins

President

Shell Oil Company

        

Mr. Mike Sommers

President

American Petroleum Institute

 

Ms. Suzanne Clark

President and Chief Executive Officer

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

 

Mr. Neal Crabtree (Minority witness)

Former Welding Foreman

Keystone XL Pipeline

Meeting Documents
Meeting Notes
This hearing will convene in room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building and over Zoom, which has been approved by the House.