HILL ENERGY BRIEFING: House Panel Alleges Big Oil Greenwashing

A Democrat-led Congressional Committee will hold a hearing today alleging internal documents from Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell and BP reveal that their public promises to fight climate change amount to greenwashing.

A cache of emails, lobbying and preparation materials for senior executives obtained by the House Oversight and Reform Committee show that Big Oil climate pledges rely on “unproven technology, accounting gimmicks and misleading language to hide the reality,” Subcommittee Chair Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said in an emailed statement.

Shell touted an ambitious path to achieve net-zero emissions but internally emphasized that this had “nothing to do with our business ...