Exxon's Junk Science

Exxon Mobile takes issue with the recent UN science report that humans are causing global warming. In fact, the oil company takes such offense at the notion that human activity could be contributing to global warming, that its think tank sent letters to various scientists offering them $10,000 if they could debunk the UN report.

This stance is seemingly at odds with some recent statements from Exxon that seemingly admit human activity has contributed to global warming. "There is increasing evidence that the earth's climate has warmed," says Exxon on global warming, in a statement issued in response to the UN study. "CO2 emissions have increased...and emissions from fossil fuels and land use changes are one source of these emissions.

Yes, CO2 emissions have increased as have emissions from fossil fuels, etc. In other words, human beings are changing the earth's climate, and instead of spending $10,000 to help stop this potentially catastrophic change, Exxon is spending that money on trying to bribe scientists into debunking the UN report.

While there is nothing wrong with funding research, objective research does not have a pre-determined outcome in mind.

Don Wuebbles, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois criticizes Exxon. "To me this is really amazing, you never get offered that kind of money. Even if groups ask you to write things, they don't try to give you the answer before hand."

Boo, Exxon. You should be ashamed of yourself.