Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere

More Oil Companies Could Join Exxon Mobil as Focus of Climate Investigations

The opening of an investigation of Exxon Mobil by the New York attorney general’s office into the company’s record on climate change may well spur legal inquiries into other oil companies, according to legal and climate experts, although successful prosecutions are far from assured.

Many oil companies have funded lobbying efforts and research on climate change, so prosecutors would most likely be able to search through vast amounts of material. The industry has also resisted pressure for years from environmental groups to warn investors of the risks that stricter limits on carbon emissions could have on their businesses, although that appears to be changing.

An ExxonMobil sign is displayed at a gas station in Cincinnati.

Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | Getty Images
An ExxonMobil sign is displayed at a gas station in Cincinnati.

 

The opening of an investigation of Exxon Mobil by the New York attorney general’s office into the company’s record on climate change may well spur legal inquiries into other oil companies, according to legal and climate experts, although successful prosecutions are far from assured.

Read more at CNBC.

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