fossil fuel industry
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Big oil spent decades sowing doubt about fossil fuel dangers, experts testify
Experts and lawmakers, during a Senate hearing, revealed a strategic shift by the fossil fuel industry from outright climate denial to more sophisticated disinformation campaigns aimed at protecting profits while undermining climate policy.
In short:
- A Senate report, backed by subpoenaed documents, showcases how the fossil fuel sector transitioned from denying climate change to deceiving the public through disinformation.
- Lawmakers cited the industry's greenwashing efforts, emphasizing its dual messaging: acknowledging climate change privately while publicly downplaying it.
- Democrats argued that oil companies should bear the financial burden of climate change impacts, rather than taxpayers.
Key quote:
“In my view, it should not be state government or the federal government having to pick up the bill. I think it’s time to ask the people who caused that problem, who lied about that situation, to pick up the bill.”
— Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders
Why this matters:
The fossil fuel industry's influence on climate change narratives has impacted public understanding and delayed policy action, contributing to worsening climate crises. Read more: Climate change denial and me.
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