The Senate investigated the history of oil companies and climate change. Notably, this investigation was done to determine whether the oil industry was fully aware of the effect of fossil fuels on climate change.
Upon conducting the investigation, the Senate found that some major oil companies knew about the harm fossil fuels cause but decided to hide any evidence. During a meeting, Senator Whitehouse and Rep Raskin shared what they had found out.
The Investigation Report
Senator Whitehouse and Rep Raskin shared their findings from a 65-page report they had compiled titled “Denial, Disinformation, And DoubleSpeak: Big Oil’s Evolving Efforts to Avoid Accountability for Climate Change.”
One major topic Senator Whitehouse and Rep Raskin discussed in the report was how major oil companies deceived Americans into believing that fossil fuels do not harm climate change. They’ve continued this deception since 1960.
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Big Oil companies made their statements believable by running a campaign that shared information on how gas is a climate-friendly fuel. In addition to the report presented by Senator Whitehouse, the Senate Budget Committee released a video that showed how major oil companies deceived Americans into believing that fossil fuels aren’t harmful to climate change.
The video also showed how these companies decided to use low-carbon technologies for their production to make it seem like they were in the right.
The Senate Budget Chairman Whitehouse Opening Remark
Senator Whitehouse made the opening remark during the hearing. In it, he revealed that the record shows the four phases the fossil fuel industry is going through. In the first phase, major oil companies like Exxon, Shell, Chevron, and the American Petroleum Institute pretend to care about climate change.
The second phase shows the companies’ partnership with Paris Agreement climate goals, which they ended up not sticking to their goals. In the third phase, these oil companies showcase their interest in investing in technologies to help prevent climate change.
However, they didn’t proceed with the investment plan. Lastly, major oil companies set goals to reduce gas emissions further in the future rather than now to make it seem like dealing with the emissions now is less urgent. They are also not taking the necessary actions internally to achieve these goals.
After listing out the four phases, Senator Whitehouse said that Phase four is “Climate Denial Lite, a green-leaning cover for the industry’s continued covert operation which is done through dark money, phony front groups, false and economics. Also, through relentless exertion of political influence — to block meaningful climate safety progress.”
Republicans in the Senate and API Reacts to Democrats’ Claims
Republicans disagree with the reports the Democrats provided about the issue. They feel like it’s a scheme to distract people from focusing on how Democrats couldn’t promote transitioning from oil and gas to something safer. Republicans also added that the report is biased.
Republican Sen. Kennedy of Louisiana made a snide remark at Democrats. He said, “We spend all this money, and we don’t lower global temperatures one scintilla of a degree.” Furthermore, the American Petroleum Institute has been called out repeatedly for its actions.
However, the API said the report released by the Democrats is election-year rhetoric. One of API’s spokespersons said, “At a time of persistent inflation and geopolitical instability, our nation needs more American energy—including more oil and natural gas—and less unfounded election-year rhetoric.”
Additionally, API stated, “America’s energy workers are focused on delivering the reliable, affordable oil and natural gas Americans demand while scaling the next generation of low-carbon technologies, and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate.”
What Americans Think of Fossil Fuel
According to a 2023 Pew research poll, about 68% of Americans would like a combination of renewable energy and fossil fuels. However, 31% prefer that fossil fuel use stop completely. Another recent poll showed that most Americans support the notion that natural gas should be part of the country’s future energy source.
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