Exxon’s Tillerson Murky on Future of Paris Climate Pact

Democrats on Wednesday appeared skeptical of Tillerson, pointing to concerns about climate change and American sanctions on Russia, which have cost ExxonMobil an estimated $1 billion.  Most Republicans, which control both chambers of Congress, spoke in support of his nomination.

“You’ve led a global global enterprise with 70,000 employees around the world, have been there for 41.5 years, have met world leaders, know them up close and personally,” said Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee who chairs of the Foreign Relations committee.  He told Tillerson it’s “very possible” that he was an “inspired choice” for the job.

The hearing will continue on Thursday.

ExxonMobil’s business revolves around gas and oil drilling — industries that would be threatened by far-reaching efforts to slow climate change.  The company is a major source of climate pollution and it has operated major drilling projects in Russia, Iran, and other countries that the Obama Administration views as hostile.

The company’s efforts to conceal climate science in recent decades were revealed last year by InsideClimate News and are being probed by a number of states.  More recently, ExxonMobil acknowledged that climate change is real and it stated its support for the Paris climate agreement.

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