Oil giants funding climate change skeptics to obscure global warming

As of 2016, 85% of the world’s energy is extracted from fossil fuels. A vast majority of the industrial work is dependent on the usage of fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gasses adding up to the cause of global warming. Though global warming is primarily responsible for the increase in earth’s average temperature, there are several multinational oil companies that are spending billions of dollars in spreading counter propaganda among the masses.

From 2003 to 2010, oil giants have spent around $558 million on various climate change denial campaigns, to obstruct any change in climate policies. All this is done to erode public’s belief regarding global warming.

Why are they doing it?

Over the years, people have become increasingly cautious and aware regarding the effects of climate change. Since the past few decades, there have several international conferences that aimed towards curbing the use of fossil fuels.

If any significant changes are made in climate policies, the fossil fuel industry would come out to be the biggest loser out of it.

That’s why they have been doing everything in their power, to divert people's attention from climate change. In a way, all this has led to the low-level of public interest in climate science.

Donations and Funds

Most of these donations are made anonymously and are channeled through various institutions, making it impossible to trace the donor. According to a report, various climate denial organizations are funded around $900 million dollars annually to present false propaganda about global warming. 

In 2002, four multinational companies including Exxon Mobil pledged to donate $225 million dollars to Stanford university for their research on global warming.

In the year 2000, BP (British Petroleum) donated around $10 million dollars to Princeton university for research purpose.

350.org received $2 million worth from Rockefellers Brothers Fund.

In 2006, Royal Society accused Exxon Mobil of granting $2.9 million dollars to American scientists who had deluded the public regarding climate change.

According to TIME, Sierra Club a non-profit organization had accepted around $25 million dollars in donations from Chesapeake Energy corporation (natural gas and petroleum company).

According to Greenpeace organization, Koch brothers have donated $88 million dollars between 1997 to 2014 to 80 different organizations opposing climate change.

Temperature Rise: According to scientists, Earth’s temperature has increased by 0.8-degree Celsius since 1880

Companies Responsible: According to Greenpeace organization, top 10 companies contributing the most towards climate change.

Donations: Fossil fuel companies donations to political parties and other organizations.

Profits: Big 5 oil companies and their profits.

Exxon Knew: According to a report, Exxon Mobil knew about the climate change by the mid-1980s. But over the years they have spent millions of dollars in misguiding people about it.

Dirty Politics: Over the course of 17 years, Koch Brothers have spent around $88 million dollars to oppose climate change claims.

Vulnerable Countries: According to a scientific research, those countries who have contributed the least will be the most affected by the climate change

How Are People Affected ?

The abundance of fossil fuels and climate change skepticism are primarily responsible for less amount of research in the field of cleaner fuels. Most of the developing nations are still dependent on fossil fuels and are not exposed to cleaner and better technologies.

All these well-funded denial campaigns are accountable for misleading the government and keeping the global citizens under the shadow of climate change.