For decades, multinational oil and gas companies have acted behind the scenes to delay environmental policies and downplay the driving role of their operations in the climate crisis. By calling on Donald Trump, Tuesday, November 12, not to keep his promise to (again) take the United States out of the Paris climate agreement, the boss of Exxon Mobil created a surprise in the aisles of the COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. “It is by participating [à la discussion] that we exert influence on things, not by leaving them”pleaded Darren Woods to the attention of the president-elect of the United States, who will take office in January.
Clarifying his thoughts in an interview with Politico, the CEO acknowledged that “the challenge or need to tackle global emissions” continued, with or without the support of the United States, historically responsible for the overwhelming majority of greenhouse gas emissions. As the window for action continues to shrink, to the point of compromising any chance of limiting the rise in temperatures, Darren Woods recalled that “Whatever happens in the short term will only make the long term even more difficult.”
“A second exit from the Paris climate agreement would have profound implications for U.S. efforts to reduce its own emissions and for international efforts to combat climate change,” added an Exxon spokesperson, quoted by CNN, in the wake of the “boss”.
These statements, or rather the credit given to them, infuriated American author and activist Genevieve Guenther. “It’s greenwashing,” reacted this specialist in communication strategies for oil and gas multinationals, on X. “[Darren] Woods knows the Paris agreement is not legally binding” and that the United Nations Framework Convention against Climate Change, which orchestrates climate negotiations, “don't bite”, she continued, calling for people to be wary of these expressions of goodwill.
“Exxon prefers that there be regulations, especially as they do not force it to change its model”also translated Romain Ioualalen, campaign manager for the NGO Oil Change International.
As I see it, what Exxon is saying is that it is better to stay within the framework of an agreement which does not constrain it to much, while adorning itself with a veneer of action for the climate, rather than slamming the door and taking the risk of seeing the climate movement strengthen.
Romain Ioualalen, from the NGO Oil Change Internationalat franceinfo
The speech of the American oil and gas firm in favor of the Paris agreement is therefore not surprising, he assures. Like its fellow countryman Chevron, Exxon invested massively, just last year, to tap into the resources of the Permian basin, straddling Texas and New Mexico, going against calls from the scientific community not to extract more fossil fuels. “Oil companies consider that they can benefit from certain types of climate policies, such as those implemented in the United States,” continues Romain Ioualalen, who cites the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), presented as the major climate law of the Biden administration.
The IRA certainly accelerates the development of renewable energies, “but this law gives lots of subsidies to fossil fuel companies and supports oil and gas extraction” on American territory, he recalls. The giants of the sector “have succeeded in directing climate policy so that it benefits them, while falling within the framework of the Paris agreement”. Quoted earlier this month in the Financial Timesthe CEO of Total Energies, Patrick Pouyanné, also pleaded for the maintenance of climate regulations in the United States. According to him, the fossil fuel sector has nothing to gain from becoming “le wild West”the wild and merciless West of the time of the gold rush. “My opinion is that [l’absence de régulation climatique] will not help the industry, but on the contrary, it will demonize it, and close any possibility of dialogue.”
Since the 19th century, the average temperature of the Earth warmed by 1.1°C . Scientists have established with certainty that this increase is due to human activities, which consume fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). This warming, unprecedented in its speed, threatens the future of our societies and biodiversity. But solutions – renewable energies, sobriety, reduced meat consumption – exist. Discover our answers to your questions on the climate crisis.
