Newly released filings reveal ExxonMobil’s internal climate denial tactics
Massachusetts prosecutors disclosed deposition testimony and internal memos showing ExxonMobil knowingly marketed algae biofuel as a climate solution while privately labeling the project a dead end.
In a recent disclosure, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office provided deposition excerpts from ExxonMobil researcher Joseph Weissman, who described the company's algae-biofuel announcement as deliberately misleading. Internal communications reveal the project was intended to convince the public that Exxon was tackling climate change, even though staff considered it a "dead end." Additional documents feature a 1992 internal paper predicting that a thinner Arctic ice cover would make offshore petroleum extraction cheaper, underscoring the company's deep understanding of climate impacts.
The materials also show ExxonMobil’s coordinated effort to cast doubt on climate science to hinder the growth of renewable energy. The release coincides with Exxon’s legal battles, notably the Supreme Court’s review of the Suncor v. Boulder climate-damage lawsuit. Analysts say the evidence could strengthen plaintiffs’ claims that the firm concealed its knowledge of climate risks while misleading consumers.
Why it matters
The documents expose how a major oil company concealed climate risks while publicly denying them, influencing lawsuits and public policy.
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