Exxon Leaving ALEC: Important But Insufficient Step in Addressing Company's History of Climate Science Denial, Campaigners Say

ExxonMobil has announced it will leave the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate lobby group known for its attempts to block climate action.  Campaigners cautiously welcomed the decision, though said Exxon had to do more to prove it was committed to addressing climate change.

Exxon’s decision comes after opposition to ALEC’s attempt last December to get the Environmental Protection Agency to abandon its position that climate change proposes a risk to human health.

ALEC links corporations to state legislators with the aim of drafting legislation to inhibit or repeal pro-climate policies.  The group is bankrolled by the Koch brothers, the US’s leading climate science denial funders.  The Nation reports that “no-one knows how much the Kochs have given ALEC in total, but the amount likely exceeds $1 million”.

ALEC also has strong support from a US “web of denial” in its mission to block climate action, with backing from climate science denial organisations such as the Heartland Institute and Heritage Foundation.

Exxon’s decision to leave ALEC comes after other corporate giants also decided to cut ties with the group, including BP, Royal Dutch Shell Group, and Ford.

The decision to split from ALEC has been cautiously welcomed by environmental organisations as a significant step towards climate action from Big Oil companies.

Ben Ratner, Senior Director of the Environmental Defence Fund, described it in a press release as an “important statement”, since companies “seeking to show corporate social responsibility” should “distance themselves from groups that pursue agendas harmful to public health and the environment”.

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