Leading Fossil Fuel Companies Fail Climate Responsibility Test

A comprehensive study by a science advocacy group gives poor grades in corporate responsibility to eight top producers.  Exxon and coal companies rank at the bottom.

A methodical review of the world's dominant fossil fuel producers has documented their poor performance—in some cases, egregious failure— in taking responsibility for their emissions of greenhouse gases and moving effectively to confront climate change.

"None of them has made a clean break from disinformation on climate science and policy," said a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, published by four of its senior climate experts last week.

"None of the eight companies has laid out a company-wide pathway or plan to align its business model with the Paris Climate Agreement."

The study looked at BP, Chevron, Conoco Philips, ExxonMobil, and Shell, the five largest investor-owned oil companies in cumulative emissions; as well as Arch Coal, CONSOL Energy and Peabody, which are the three leading coal companies by the same measure.

Exxon and the coal companies come out at the bottom of the responsibility rankings.  Exxon and Chevron were called egregious for failing to renounce climate science denial, and the coal companies for failing to adjust to the low-carbon requirements of the new Paris agreement, which aims at reaching zero net emissions of carbon dioxide late in this century.

Only BP and Shell avoided low scores for the "accuracy and consistency of public statements on climate science and the consequent need for swift and deep reductions in emissions from the burning of fossil fuels."

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