The world isn’t on track to meet its climate goals — and it’s the public’s fault, a leading oil company CEO told journalists. Exxon Mobil Corp. CEO Darren Woods told editors from …

Woods argued the “dirty secret” is that customers weren’t willing to pay for the added cost of cleaner fossil fuels.

In his comments Tuesday, Woods argued the “dirty secret” is that customers weren’t willing to pay for the added cost of cleaner fossil fuels.

Referring to carbon capture, Woods said Exxon has “tabled proposals” with governments “to get out there and start down this path using existing technology.”

“People can’t afford it, and governments around the world rightly know that their constituents will have real concerns,” he added.

“So we’ve got to find a way to get the cost down to grow the utility of the solution, and make it more available and more affordable, so that you can begin the [clean energy] transition.”

For example, he said Exxon “could, today, make sustainable aviation fuel for the airline business. But the airline companies can’t afford to pay.”

  • logicbomb@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    4 months ago

    This is an old tactic, and it’s been used by the oil industry before.

    Plastics are polluting our environment? “It’s not the industry’s fault. It’s because individuals litter and don’t recycle. No need to have the government regulate the industry.”

    If they can convince people that it’s their fault, then there is no need for industry to change.

    • HopeOfTheGunblade@kbin.social
      3·
      4 months ago

      Even if it were 100% the case that this was the fault of individuals, sounds like the government should be regulating the industry to cease producing plastic for which it’s a problem if people litter.