Shannon Van Hoesen, shannon.vanhoesen@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC - Oil and gas industry executives kicked off CERAWeek by dismissing the urgent need to meet globally agreed upon climate goals and calling for an increase in fossil fuel extraction and exports against scientific evidence, according to reporting from Politico.
The industry message emerging from CERAWeek overlaps with House Republicans’ dirty “energy week.” Last week, House Republicans rolled out a set of bills they plan to vote on this week that would claw back key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act that support clean energy projects and reduce methane pollution, promote fracking and drilling on public lands, as well as a pointless resolution criticizing the Biden administration for its efforts to advance climate action and environmental justice and protect communities from dangerous proposed fossil fuel projects.
In response, Sierra Club Chief Energy Officer Holly Bender released the following statement:
“There is a global, scientific consensus that we must stop the extraction and burning of fossil fuels in order to avert the worst of the climate crisis. People and communities around the world are working tirelessly for clean, renewable energy because their lives and livelihoods depend on it while oil and gas executives gathered at CERAWeek, openly mock these efforts. Comments like those from Exxon’s CEO reveal any fossil fuel industry claims about having climate plans to be little more than attempts to continue lining their own pockets while the world burns. Congress must hold the industry accountable for their destruction; instead House Republicans are putting polluters over people with stunts like dirty ‘energy week’ and giving oil and gas companies more handouts and free reign to drill and frack us into climate chaos.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.