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October 29,2021

Anna Murray 

Executives from major oil corporations and industry groups testified before U.S. House Oversight Committee on October 28 in a hearing aimed at addressing big oil's alleged climate change disinformation campaign. This was the first time the CEOs had been questioned under oath for a hearing on climate disinformation. The six-hour hearing was prompted by a July scandal involving an undercover video of an Exxon lobbyist detailing the company's lobbying efforts against climate change action, during which energy industry executives were grilled on climate change.

On October 28, CEOs Darren Woods of ExxonMobil, Gretchen Watkins of Shell Oil, David Lawler of BP America, and Mike Wirth of Chevron appeared virtually before the panel. The panel also heard from BP America officials as well as the presidents of the American Petroleum Institute and the Chamber of Commerce. Under oath and cross-examination, executives from some of the world's largest oil companies denied knowing their products were causing climate change and lied about it, claiming that they were acting in good faith to reduce emissions and were simply following the science at the time.

Democrat Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, announced the subpoenas at the end of the hearing. The House committee will subpoena major oil company executives for documents relating to what company scientists have said about climate change and any funds spent to mislead the public about global warming.