Hell Freezes Over
May 30th, 2008 by AndrewWhile the dollar figures the funding represents (a few million, annually) are utterly trivial to Exxon, it may be emblematic of something more significant that they are reducing (rather than intensifying) their smear campaigns, given the current political climate. The big cogs are beginning to turn, however grudgingly. I’m still not expecting any positive actions to come from the oil barons of the world, but less negativity is something, anyway.
(By the way, if anyone remembers the scandalized Heartland Institute, Exxon once funded them, but stopped as of 2007.)
May 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I think the perfect storm of scientific awareness, public attitudes, and political climate are gathered to produce climate change legislation, whomever is in the White House. Obama, Clinton, and McCain all appear to “get it,” when it comes to climate change.
Even Bush has actually uttered the words, “climate change.” We have things like the USCAP (US climate action partnership) led by huge companies like GE, Dupont, Ford, etc. that are requesting US climate change legislation. This is mainly as a result of some states (notably California) beginning to address climate change without the Feds. No big company wants that.
So they have smartly decided that it is better to help shape the regulations to their liking than it is to deny deny deny, and regulations are awkwardly thrust upon them.
Exciting times.