US Lawmakers Press Oil Companies on What They Knew About Climate Change

"Letter to the CEOs of six of the country's largest fossil fuel companies seeks information on the firms' climate change history and policy positions."

"A contingent of powerful U.S. representatives are pressing the chief executives of six of the country's largest fossil fuel companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell, to answer questions about when the companies first understood that burning fossil fuels drives climate change and whether they became active partners in an effort to downplay the harm that could result.

The inquiry was prompted by recent disclosures that ExxonMobil scientists were aware of the potential harm of global warming as far back as the late 1970s.

"We are alarmed by reports stating that Exxon (becoming ExxonMobil in 1999) hid the truth about the role of fossil fuels in influencing climate change and intentionally spread disinformation about climate science," according to the letter signed by 45 Democratic representatives."

David Hasemyer reports for InsideClimate News December 9, 2015.