Proactively engaging on climate-related policy

ExxonMobil engages on policy directly, through trade associations and focused industry collaboration efforts, such as the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative. Policy solutions to address climate change should be balanced, recognizing the increasing global demand for affordable energy, which is vital to addressing global poverty, education, health and energy security. Access to modern energy is closely correlated to increased life expectancy, reduced poverty and malnutrition, and higher levels of childhood education. 

Given this dual challenge, the Company encourages sound policy solutions that reduce climate-related risks across the economy at the lowest societal cost. Company policy positions are clear and transparent, and lobbying efforts are consistent with these positions.

ExxonMobil has monitored developments in science over the last four decades and surveys the evolving scientific literature. ExxonMobil's engagement with the scientific and policy community on climate science has been ongoing and collaborative. The Company's scientists, engineers and other experts have participated on such efforts for decades, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since its inception in 1988, and have co-authored chapters of IPCC scientific reports. The Company's public policy experts have contributed to the development of sound policy solutions at national and international levels. 

The Company actively engages on policy at the domestic and global level to inform business planning and to assist policymakers seeking expertise about energy markets and technology. ExxonMobil has supported the Paris Agreement since its adoption, and offers to assist policymakers addressing the gaps between the policies called for under current Nationally Determined Contributions and the ultimate goals of the Paris Agreement as part of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2021.

For more than a decade, ExxonMobil has supported an economy-wide price on CO₂ emissions as an efficient policy mechanism to address greenhouse gas emissions. ExxonMobil is a founding member of the Climate Leadership Council (CLC), which calls for regulatory simplification and the adoption of a carbon fee. According to the CLC, the Council’s bipartisan plan could cut U.S. CO₂ emissions in half by 2035, as compared to 2005 levels.¹ 

In addition, ExxonMobil provides financial support for Americans for Carbon Dividends, a national education and advocacy campaign promoting the policy pillars of the CLC.

ExxonMobil is also part of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), a voluntary effort representing 12 of the world’s largest oil and natural gas producers working collaboratively to mitigate the risks of climate change. OGCI is a CEO-led organization focused on developing practical solutions in areas including carbon capture and storage, methane emissions reductions, and energy and transportation efficiency.

Attributes of sound policy

• Promote global participation
• Let market prices drive the selection of solutions
• Ensure a uniform and predictable cost of GHG emissions across the economy
• Minimize complexity and administrative costs
• Maximize transparency
• Provide flexibility for future adjustments to react to developments in technology, climate science and policy

¹ Analysis based on implementation of plan in 2021. Resources for the Future: Analysis of alternative carbon tax price paths for Climate Leadership Council (CLC) carbon dividends plan, issue brief 18-07 by Marc Hafstead, 2019.