The campaign to hold Exxon accountable for their climate cover-up just took a big step forward.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced this afternoon that they’re opening an investigation into whether Exxon has failed to account for the risk climate change and climate regulations could pose to their business model.
This investigation could fundamentally reshape how Exxon and the entire fossil fuel industry does business. If the SEC finds that Exxon has lied to its shareholders, the company could face major penalties. More importantly, a ruling that forces Exxon to account for its climate risk could help shut down new fossil fuel development and industry expansion.
This step by the SEC wouldn’t have happened without you. The divestment movement has helped mainstream the idea of stranded assets and climate risk. And the wave of voices calling out #ExxonKnew triggered the investigations that revealed the internal documents the SEC is now using to go after the company.
Now, it’s crucial that we keep up the pressure. Exxon and their cronies in Congress are already pushing back hard. Last week, Rep. Lamar Smith hosted a hearing on his authority to subpoena 350.org, our allies, and state attorneys general for our work to hold Exxon accountable. As our Executive Director May Boeve said at a press conference that morning, “This is Exhibit A in the case study of Big Oil’s stranglehold on Congress.”
If we can’t keep up our momentum, Exxon could intimidate regulators and investigators into backing down or narrowing the scope of their inquiries. If we can keep shining a light on Exxon’s lies, we’ll be closer to dismantling the power of an industry that’s still recklessly — and knowingly — driving the climate crisis.
Please forward this email, share the graphic above on Facebook, or tweet it, so that more people will join this campaign and help amplify the big news.
And you can learn more about Exxon’s lies and the campaign to hold them accountable at exxonknew.org.
Let’s keep it up.