Hugh Helferty published this article in The San Francisco Chronicle responding to ExxonMobil committing $60 billion to buy Pioneer and Chevron buying Hess for $53 billion. Clearly, while making claims about taking action against climate change, Big Oil is still prioritizing profits, and exacerbating the climate crisis while they’re at it.

From the article:

Let me be clear. It’s not that oil companies aren’t doing anything to reduce emissions. When I was in the industry, I saw a lot of research being done related to climate solutions. But the measures that are actually implemented are baby steps compared to what is needed. After devoting their careers to research within the industry, many scientists and engineers — some of whom I know personally — simply can’t take it anymore and are moving on to organizations they feel are truly committed to making a difference.

Oil companies tell us that they would love to address climate change if only they were supported by the right government policies. By that, they mean things like generous tax credits that put the burden of paying for climate solutions on taxpayers (all this while raking in $219 billion in profits in 2022).

A new headline tells us every day: The climate crisis is fast approaching the point of no return. With next month’s United Nations climate change conference coming up, even Pope Francis has called for a binding energy transition that is efficient, obligatory and readily monitored. Governments need to step up and stop going easy on the industry. How? By imposing regulations that force the industry to clean up its own mess. That’s what it took to eliminate toxic lead from gasoline. That’s what it took to remove pollution-causing sulfur from a wide range of fuels. And that’s what it will take to address greenhouse gas emissions.

Read the full article here.