Pennsylvania’s Bucks County last week filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the largest American oil companies for lying to the public about their impact on climate change and subsequently damaging the region’s environment. In response to the news, Unlocking America’s Future Spokesperson Kyle Herrig penned a letter to the editor applauding Bucks County for standing up to Big Oil and warning companies like Exxon that they’re not dealing with oil-friendly judges in Texas.
You can read the full LTE below and at the link HERE:
Snake Oil
Bucks County took the bold step to sue major oil companies for deceiving the public about their industry’s impact on climate change. As The Inquirer reported, ExxonMobil called the lawsuit a distraction from its work “to lower emissions around the world.” This is a provocatively ignorant defense. Just recently, the company made headlines for suing its own shareholders to block a proposal calling for Exxon to step up its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The company had its Washington ally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, file an amicus brief to attack the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new climate risk disclosure rule. Exxon should take Bucks County’s lawsuit seriously. It is not dealing with the oil-friendly judges in Texas that it prefers to work with. As a result of backdoor lobbying from Big Oil, Texas has soured its reputation as a business-first state, with bans on responsible investing that may cost taxpayers billions of dollars. We commend Bucks County for taking a stand and ensuring Pennsylvania doesn’t become Texas.
Kyle Herrig, Unlocking America’s Future
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The day after news of the lawsuit broke, Unlocking America’s Future announced a digital and television ad campaign in Pennsylvania urging constituents to tell Congress to side with everyday Americans over greedy billionaires and say yes to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) new climate risk disclosure rule. The campaign is part of a six-figure advertising buy across Arizona, Montana, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
Learn more about the state fights to protect responsible investing and climate disclosures and hold major oil companies accountable:
- NEW ADS: Unlocking America’s Future Launches Ad Campaign in South Carolina to Counter Legislative Attacks on ESG
- NEW ADS: Unlocking America’s Future Launches Ad Campaign in Arizona to Build Support for the SEC’s New Climate Risk Disclosure Rule
- ICYMI: Houston Chronicle Columnist Lays Out How Texas Is Putting Oil, Gas Before Young Peoples’ Futures
- ICYMI: New Texas Association of Business Report Shows Texas Anti-ESG Laws Are Costing State Nearly $700 Million
- NEW RESEARCH: Business Lobby Backed By Bill Barr and Big Oil Attacks SEC Climate Disclosure Rule
- ESG NEWS ACROSS AMERICA: States Will Play a Key Role in the Fight To Protect Responsible Investing
