This is a guest blog by Jesse Coleman, cross-posted from Greenpeace blog The Witness
On March 29 ExxonMobil, the most profitable company in the world, spilled at least...
read more
In a report that is bullish for the oil industry and horrifying for the people of the planet, the Guardian reports that Exxon predicts carbon dioxide emissions to rise by 25 per cent over the next 20 years.
"According to the company's annual Outlook for Energy report – due to be published in the next few weeks – demand for power will increase by nearly 40% in the next 20 years, lifting emissions by around 0.9% a year at least until 2030."
Which is to say that all the optimistic (!?) international predictions of anthropogenic CO2 emissions levelling off anytime soon are a fiction. Exxon, apparently, is paying attention to the pathetic efforts that world governments are making to rein in increases (and paying a fortune to ensure that platitudes outpace policy for as long as possible).
Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.
There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.
This is a guest blog by Jesse Coleman, cross-posted from Greenpeace blog The Witness
On March 29 ExxonMobil, the most profitable company in the world, spilled at least...
read more