A recent report released by Congressional Democrats reveals that big oil companies have been deceiving the American public about the dangers of man-made climate change for many years. The 65-page report resulting from a three-year investigation was made public just hours before a Senate Budget Committee hearing regarding the impact of oil and gas companies on global warming.
Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) criticized the efforts of fossil fuel companies, stating, “They could have been environmental heroes, but instead they chose to mislead the public,” highlighting the more than 60 years of distraction caused by their misleading efforts. He added, “What’s most striking is that ‘big oil and gas’ understood this issue long before anyone else did.”
The investigation by Democrats uncovered evidence dating back to the 1960s showing that the fossil fuel industry knew about the effects of emissions. The report also exposed how oil and gas companies initially tried to conceal this information, later resorting to downplaying the urgency of reducing emissions.
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According to Jeffrey Spran, an associate professor and director of the Climate Responsibility Laboratory at the University of Miami, oil and gas companies’ claims of decarbonization are simply a tactic to delay climate change action. He stated, “The prioritization of messaging over scientific evidence persists in oil companies today.”
Senate Republicans criticized the hearing as partisan, preferring to focus on the economic repercussions of a rapid shift away from oil and gas. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, known for being a top oil and gas producing state, questioned the substantial financial investments made without a noteworthy decrease in the planet’s temperature.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) was accused in reports and Senate hearings of colluding with oil and gas companies to conceal the truth about climate change. API was reported to guide fossil fuel companies on public relations strategies while also acting as a scapegoat for congressional oversight.
In response, an API spokesperson stated to NBC News, “As our country faces inflation and geopolitical instability, it is crucial to prioritize American energy production including oil and natural gas, rather than advancing unfounded political rhetoric.”
Democrats continue to assert that oil and gas companies have been causing harm to the environment for years without facing consequences. Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont) raised concerns about accountability, questioning the legal grounds for holding the industry responsible for the havoc caused by climate change to billions of people.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
