Exxon CEO shifts emission accountability to consumers
Exxon Mobil's CEO Darren Woods argues that the onus of carbon pollution rests with consumers, not the oil producers.
In short:
- Exxon Mobil, under investor pressure, disclosed its Scope 3 emissions, revealing a significant carbon footprint.
- The company faces lawsuits and public criticism for its historical role in climate misinformation and resistance to fossil fuel transition.
- While Exxon has been accused of dodging responsibility, it has yet to set targets for reducing its vast Scope 3 emissions.
Key quote:
"The people who are generating the emissions need to be aware of and pay the price for generating those emissions."
— Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon Mobil
Why this matters:
Exxon Mobil has communicated a perspective that places the onus of carbon emissions squarely on the shoulders of consumers rather than the producers. This argument is grounded in the principle of supply and demand: Exxon Mobil and similar companies argue that they are merely suppliers, responding to the global demand for energy. According to this viewpoint, the responsibility for carbon emissions begins at the point of consumption, not production.
Peter Dykstra argues that corporations continue to tout their greenness, while journalists get beaten senseless by lame ideas.
