The allegations relate to the claims that scientists working for Exxon have long - known about the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels , but instead of play the company fund climate denial organizations that broadcast confusion and doubt about climate skill . It is take that through doing this , they delay any action that might have been taken to mitigate climate change . The investigation is looking into whether while they were doing this , with company administrator accused of being in full knowledge over the impingement of the fossil fuel diligence , they were also misleading their investor about climate endangerment .
Exxon obviously denies these title , and argue that they kept their investor full inform about the risks posed . In an emailed statement tothe Guardian , Exxon spokesman Richard Keil said : “ We unequivocally reject allegation that ExxonMobil suppressed climate change research contained in media report card that are inaccurate deformation of ExxonMobil ’s intimately 40 - year history of mood research that was take publicly in conjunction with the Department of Energy , academic , and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . ”
The probe come followinggathering pressurefrom environmental groups , as well as others seek economical justice , and organizations indorse indigenous community right . Even Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders , the two front - runners in the Democratic presidential candidate raceway , have both sum their voices to call for the investigation . The alleged top up by Exxon has been compared by many to the tobacco industry , which also attempted to cover up the wallop of smoke , before having to shell out ten-spot of trillion of dollars in penalties .
“ This could afford up years of litigation and settlements in the same way that tobacco litigation did , also spearheaded by attorneys world-wide , ” the University of Virginia ’s Brandon L. Garrett said to theNew York Times , who first reported the investigating into ExxonMobil . “ In some shipway , the theory is similar – that the world was mislead about something dangerous to health . Whether the same smoke hitman will come forth , we do n’t cognize yet . ”
Through leak documents , it was firstwidely reportedin around July that Exxon knew in 1981 that climate variety could put down the oil diligence , but it was later found through an Inside Climate News investigation that the company in reality knew about this evenas far back as the seventies . In addition , the nation ’s large private coal company , Peabody Energy , is also being inquire by New York State , look for to find out if they too deliberately misled and spread doubt among the populace and investors about clime change .
