ExxonMobil Still the Bull in the Climate Shop

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He was going to be smooth. Polished. Charming. The new face of ExxonMobil, presented to us back in March 2006:

If Rex W. Tillerson has his way, Exxon Mobil will no longer be the oil company that environmentalists love to hate.

Since taking over as Exxon’s chairman three months ago from Lee R. Raymond, his abrasive predecessor who dismissed fears of global warming and branded environmental activists “extremists,” Mr. Tillerson has gone out of his way to soften Exxon’s public stance on climate change.

“We recognize that climate change is a serious issue,” Mr. Tillerson said during a 50-minute interview last week, pointing to a recent company report that acknowledged the link between the consumption of fossil fuels and rising global temperatures. “We recognize that greenhouse gas emissions are one of the factors affecting climate change.”

That image completely fell apart at a news conference yesterday.

Tillerson let us know exactly what he thinks about climate change science:

“And I will take all the criticism that comes with it. Anybody that tells you that they got this [climate change science] figured out is not being truthful. There are too many complexities around climate science for anybody to fully understand all of the causes and effects and consequences of what you may chose to do to attempt to affect that. We have to let scientists to continue their investigative work, unencumbered by political influences. This is too important to be cute with it.

Let’s put that through the Denierality Translator:

Patrick Michaels told me what to say. Let me check my cheat sheet here… oh yes: he and his ‘scientist’ friends would like more Exxon money to continue their foot-dragging – er, ‘research’. They’ve got to have time to cook more graphs and make the data fit the Exxon corporate interests. Oh, yes, regarding ‘political influences’: I really shouldn’t point fingers. Anyway, thank you for your time, ladies and gentlemen.”

Exxon hasn’t changed, folks. They’re still bullies, stalking the streets, like a cheesy 80s song .

And they’re just as behind the times. What should be worrying them is that the media is discussing their attitude as archaic, and pointing out that they’re debating a firm, scientific consensus on climate change. In the dark Exxon heart, they know it isn’t just those darned environmentalists dogging them.

It’s science, and they can’t escape it.

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