Mozambique river bed
Esso (Exxon Mobil) spend millions every year on misleading propaganda, lobbying politicians and actively attempting to discredit climate science. They have:
- Tried to get rid of scientists because they don't like their science! Within days of Bush entering the White House, Esso faxed a hit-list to the White House of scientists they wanted removed from international climate negotiations - including the chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr Robert Watson.
- Interfered with international political processes to defend their head office policy that, "science is not now able to confirm that fossil fuel use has led to any significant global warming", despite UN conclusions to the contrary.
- Lobbied to amend a report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2001 because it included the line: "The Earth's climate system has demonstrably changed on both global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era, with some of these changes attributable to human activities".
- Argued against the IPCC's first scientific assessment report for 60%-80% cuts in CO2 emissions, claiming "uncertainties" about the behaviour of carbon in the climate system. This was unsuccessful and the summary concluded that greenhouse gas emissions at present rates would certainly lead to warming.
- Promoted a widely discredited petition to dismiss the scientific consensus on global warming. The 1700 supposed "scientists" who gave their support included characters from the TV show M*A*S*H and one of the Spice Girls.
- Contributed more than $1million to get Bush's Republican Party elected and spent many years funding multi-million dollar anti-Kyoto advertising campaigns.
- Spent over $10 million a year lobbying US politicians - 5 times more than Enron used to!
- Led an industry PR offensive to change US public perceptions on climate change. The plan stated that, "victory will be achieved when... those promoting the Kyoto treaty on the basis of extant science appear to be out of touch with reality". It also shamelessly targeted teachers and students, in order to "erect a barrier against further efforts to impose Kyoto-like measures in the future".
- Lobbied Blair to support Bush's alternative to Kyoto, in a secret visit to Downing Street on 22nd January 2002.
