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EartherClimate Change
Why Can’t We Call It an Emergency?
TV newsman Bill Moyers likes to tell the story of how Edward R. Murrow, the preeminent U.S. broadcast journalist of his time, insisted on covering what became Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Murrow’s bosses at CBS News had other priorities; they ordered Murrow’s reporters to cover dance competitions in Hamburg, Paris, and London, explaining … Continued
Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope -
EartherClimate Change
The First Constitutional Fight Over Oil Drilling in the Caribbean Ramps Up in Guyana
Two Guyanese climate activists are taking their nation’s government to court. Late last month, the plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging that a deal Guyanese officials struck with Exxon allowing the energy company to expand its oil production off the country’s coast violates their right and the right of future generations to a healthy environment. “These … Continued
By Dharna Noor -
EartherEnergy
What Happens to Exxon Now?
An activist investor that staged a coup at Exxon on Wednesday over the company’s mishandling of climate change and got two new board members elected has generated headlines around the world. But that coup is a little more complex than it seems at first glance. Wednesday’s win was, in part, a victory because of just how … Continued
By Molly Taft -
EartherClimate Change
Exxon and Chevron Got Their Teeth Kicked In, But Shareholders Won’t Finish the Job
To say Tuesday was a bad day for Big Oil is an understatement. Chevron and Exxon, the two largest oil companies in the U.S., got rolled by their own investors. Shell also suffered a crippling defeat in a Dutch court in what may end up being the biggest win for the climate. But it’s the … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherEnergy
Shareholders Tell Exxon to Eat Shit
History was made at ExxonMobil’s annual shareholder meeting Wednesday when investors essentially staged a coup, voting to oust at least two members of the board due to the company’s poor performance on climate change. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out! Those members will be replaced by climate activists backed by investor … Continued
By Molly Taft -
EartherEnergy
Exxon Blames You for Climate Change
Over the past few decades, oil companies have largely shifted away from climate denial. Now, you can see the energy giants openly acknowledge that climate change is happening, but their new messaging tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth. A new, first-of-its-kind study by Harvard researchers Geoffrey Supran and Naomi Oreskes explains why: … Continued
By Dharna Noor -
Earther
Restoring Financial Regulators’ Right to Fight Climate Change
This Earther report is being co-published with the Daily Poster. The Biden administration has pledged to make the climate crisis a top-tier issue, authorizing a “whole of government” to take on climate change. That would mean the responsibility to legislate environmental action wouldn’t be left up only to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department … Continued
Dharna Noor and Walker Bragman -
Earther
The Secret History and Uncertain Future of Big Oil’s Unfunniest Meme Website
“Welcome to your new favorite place,” the headline of the website FrackFeed read at the beginning of December. “The dankest memes curated for your lurking enjoyment.” If you happen to be obsessed with both fracking and some semblance of early 2010s internet culture, FrackFeed was your playground. The site boasted quizzes (“Pick a Pumpjack”), jokes … Continued
By Molly Taft -
Earther
Big Oil’s New Slate of Desperate Buzzwords Are Greenwashing at Its Worst
The past year has been not great for oil companies. Between financial losses from the pandemic and increasing pressure from investors and the public at large to do something about how their product is messing up the planet, fossil fuel producers are feeling the heat. Big Oil’s new act appears to be convincing the public … Continued
By Molly Taft