We have expanded the list of climate policies we assess company engagement with to incorporate land-use related policy, referring to legislative or regulatory measures to enhance and protect ecosystems and land where carbon is being stored. Assessments under this category are currently underweighted in terms of their contribution to the overall company metrics. This weighting will be progressively increased over the next 6 months.
We adjusted the terminology used to describe the queries running down the left-hand side of our scoring matrix and added additional explanatory text to the info-boxes. This has no impact on the scores and methodology. It has been done following user feedback to improve clarity.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil CEO, Darren Woods, is a member of the API's Board of Directors (Up to date as of August 2022)
Darren Woods
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Member of API's Executive Committee
Darren Woods
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon CEO is the chairman of API's Board of Directors
Darren Woods
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon Mobil is a member of API
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil CEO, Darren Woods, is a member of the API's Board of Directors (Up to date as of August 2022)
Darren Woods
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Member of API's Executive Committee
Darren Woods
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon CEO is the chairman of API's Board of Directors
Darren Woods
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon Mobil is a member of API
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive at ExxonMobil is the Chairman of NGSA (Up to date as of August 2022)
David Attwood
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil is a member of NGSA (Up-to-date as of September 2021).
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive at ExxonMobil is the Chairman of NGSA (Up to date as of August 2022)
David Attwood
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil is a member of NGSA (Up-to-date as of September 2021).
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior executive is on the executive committee and board of CEFIC (Up to date as of August 2022)
Philippe Ducom
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, ExxonMobil Chemical, is a member of the executive committee of CEFIC and Chair of the Legal Advisory Forum (Up-to-date 12/2019)
Dominic Clausi
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil is a member of the executive committee of Cefic
John Verity
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior executive is on the executive committee and board of CEFIC (Up to date as of August 2022)
Philippe Ducom
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, ExxonMobil Chemical, is a member of the executive committee of CEFIC and Chair of the Legal Advisory Forum (Up-to-date 12/2019)
Dominic Clausi
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil is a member of the executive committee of Cefic
John Verity
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of ExxonMobil is on the board of directors of NAM (Up to date as of August 2022)
Neil A. Chapman
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of ExxonMobil is on the board of directors of NAM (Up to date as of August 2022)
Neil A. Chapman
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Dylan Pugh, Chairman of ExxonMobil Australia, is on the board of APPEA (Up to date as of October 2022).
Dylan Pugh
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Chairman of Exxon Australia is on the board of APPEA (AUG 2020)
Nathan Fay
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Chairman on Board of Directors
Nathan Fay
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive of a subsidiary of Exxon is on APPEA's board of directors
Richard Owen
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Dylan Pugh, Chairman of ExxonMobil Australia, is on the board of APPEA (Up to date as of October 2022).
Dylan Pugh
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Chairman of Exxon Australia is on the board of APPEA (AUG 2020)
Nathan Fay
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Chairman on Board of Directors
Nathan Fay
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive of a subsidiary of Exxon is on APPEA's board of directors
Richard Owen
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior executive is a member of CPCIF's multinational committee (Article was published in December 2020, no further announcement has been made)
Fernando Vallina
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior executive is a member of CPCIF's multinational committee (Article was published in December 2020, no further announcement has been made)
Fernando Vallina
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil is a founding member and board member of ANGEA (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil is a founding member and board member of ANGEA (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of ExxonMobil Benelux is on the VNO-NCW general board. Bart Vermeulen is no longer listed as a board member. (Up to date as of August 2022)
J.L.A. Michielsen
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An Exxon executive sits on the VNO-NCW general board (up-to-date, Jan 2022).
Bart Vermeulen
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of ExxonMobil Benelux is on the VNO-NCW general board. Bart Vermeulen is no longer listed as a board member. (Up to date as of August 2022)
J.L.A. Michielsen
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An Exxon executive sits on the VNO-NCW general board (up-to-date, Jan 2022).
Bart Vermeulen
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Board of Directors of the United States Council for International Business, the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce. (Up to date as of August 2022)
Leyla Levitsky
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Exxon is on the board of directors of the US Chapter of ICC (up to date 10/2020)
John Dashwood
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Exxon is on the board of directors of the US Chapter of ICC
Peter Cleveland
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Board of Directors of the United States Council for International Business, the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce. (Up to date as of August 2022)
Leyla Levitsky
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Exxon is on the board of directors of the US Chapter of ICC (up to date 10/2020)
John Dashwood
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Exxon is on the board of directors of the US Chapter of ICC
Peter Cleveland
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil is a direct member of the IBP and participates in several of its boards and committees (Up to date as of August 2022)
Carla Lacerda, Marcio Mendes, Patricia Brunet
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil is a direct member of the IBP and participates in several of its boards and committees (Up to date as of August 2022)
Carla Lacerda, Marcio Mendes, Patricia Brunet
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil CEO, Darren Woods, is the vice chairman of the National Petroleum Council (Up to date as of August 2022)
Darren Woods
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil CEO, Darren Woods, is the vice chairman of the National Petroleum Council (Up to date as of August 2022)
Darren Woods
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Several senior executives of ExxonMobil participate in the board of governors and committees of IOGP. (Up to date as of August 2022)
Carman Mullins, John Gillies, Charlie Weeks, Nikolaas Baeckelmans, Oleg Esenkov, Cecilie A Haarseth
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of ExxonMobil is the chair of IOGP's Security Committee.
Charlie Weeks
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Management Committee of IOGP
Wayne Warwick
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Management Committee of IOGP
Daniel Wieczynski
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Management Committee of IOGP
J. Hunter Farris
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Several senior executives of ExxonMobil participate in the board of governors and committees of IOGP. (Up to date as of August 2022)
Carman Mullins, John Gillies, Charlie Weeks, Nikolaas Baeckelmans, Oleg Esenkov, Cecilie A Haarseth
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of ExxonMobil is the chair of IOGP's Security Committee.
Charlie Weeks
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Management Committee of IOGP
Wayne Warwick
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Management Committee of IOGP
Daniel Wieczynski
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Management Committee of IOGP
J. Hunter Farris
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
CEO of ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is on the Executive and Presidential Board of BDI (correct as of January 2023)
Jens-Christian Senger
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Major subsidiaries of ExxonMobil are indirect members of BDI via the VCI and VDA. Due to changing methodology, indirect relationships are currently set to 0 (Updated August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
CEO of ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is on the Executive and Presidential Board of BDI (correct as of January 2023)
Jens-Christian Senger
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Major subsidiaries of ExxonMobil are indirect members of BDI via the VCI and VDA. Due to changing methodology, indirect relationships are currently set to 0 (Updated August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Exxon is a member of FuelsEurope (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Board of Directors of FuelsEurope
Steve Cope
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Exxon is a member of FuelsEurope (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
A Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the Board of Directors of FuelsEurope
Steve Cope
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Several executives of ExxonMobil sit on the AFPM Board of Directors and the company participates in climate-related working groups. ExxonMobil has stated in its 2021 Climate Lobbying Report that is misaligned with AFPM for its advocacy against fuel efficiency and low carbon fuel standards. (Up to date as of January 2023)
Jason Duncan; Matt Crocker
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Matthew Crocker, Senior Vice President at ExxonMobil Fuels, is a member of AFPM Executive Committees. (Up to date as of Jan 2022)
Matthew Crocker
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Ian Carr, Senior Vice President at ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants Company, sits on the AFPM Executive Committee (2020 Annual Report, p.41)
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An Exxon executive is the Chair of the Operational Planning Control & Technologies Committee. (2018 Annual Report, p.41)
Adi Punuru
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An ExxonMobil Chemical Co.executive is on the AFPM's Board of Directors.
Joe Blommaert
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the executive committee of AFPM (up to date Dec 2019)
Loic Vivier
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Exxon Mobil is on the executive committee of AFPM
Jerry Wascom
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Several executives of ExxonMobil sit on the AFPM Board of Directors and the company participates in climate-related working groups. ExxonMobil has stated in its 2021 Climate Lobbying Report that is misaligned with AFPM for its advocacy against fuel efficiency and low carbon fuel standards. (Up to date as of January 2023)
Jason Duncan; Matt Crocker
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Matthew Crocker, Senior Vice President at ExxonMobil Fuels, is a member of AFPM Executive Committees. (Up to date as of Jan 2022)
Matthew Crocker
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Ian Carr, Senior Vice President at ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants Company, sits on the AFPM Executive Committee (2020 Annual Report, p.41)
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An Exxon executive is the Chair of the Operational Planning Control & Technologies Committee. (2018 Annual Report, p.41)
Adi Punuru
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An ExxonMobil Chemical Co.executive is on the AFPM's Board of Directors.
Joe Blommaert
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of ExxonMobil is on the executive committee of AFPM (up to date Dec 2019)
Loic Vivier
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Exxon Mobil is on the executive committee of AFPM
Jerry Wascom
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the Chamber of Commerce (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is the chair of the US-Iraq Business Council
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the US-Turkey Business Council (Up to date, Dec 2020)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the US-Pakistan Business Council (Up to date Dec 2020)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the Brazil-US Business Council, which operates under the US Chamber of Commerce (Up to date December 2020)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the Chamber of Commerce (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is the chair of the US-Iraq Business Council
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the US-Turkey Business Council (Up to date, Dec 2020)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the US-Pakistan Business Council (Up to date Dec 2020)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exxon is a member of the Brazil-US Business Council, which operates under the US Chamber of Commerce (Up to date December 2020)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH is a member of VCI (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH is a member of VCI (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil Gas Power Marketing is a member of International Gas Union (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
ExxonMobil Gas Power Marketing is a member of International Gas Union (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A subsidiary of ExxonMobil, Esso, is an extraordinary member of VDA. (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A subsidiary of ExxonMobil, Esso, is an extraordinary member of VDA. (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is a member of AIP (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is a member of AIP (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A subsidiary of ExxonMobil, Esso, is a lead member of APGA (Up to date as of November 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Mobil Australia and Mobil New Zealand are no longer on the list of members of APGA. Esso, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is a lead member. (up to date, Jan 2022)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Mobil Australia and Mobil New Zealand - subsidiaries of ExxonMobil - are two of over 100 direct members of APGA. Esso, another ExxonMobil brand, is a lead member of APGN (Up to date as of August 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A subsidiary of ExxonMobil, Esso, is a lead member of APGA (Up to date as of November 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Mobil Australia and Mobil New Zealand are no longer on the list of members of APGA. Esso, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is a lead member. (up to date, Jan 2022)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Mobil Australia and Mobil New Zealand - subsidiaries of ExxonMobil - are two of over 100 direct members of APGA. Esso, another ExxonMobil brand, is a lead member of APGN (Up to date as of August 2021)
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An ExxonMobil subsidiary, ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company, is a member of ACC (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
An ExxonMobil subsidiary, ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company, is a member of ACC (Up to date as of August 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
In this section, we depict graphically the relationships the corporation has with trade associations, federations, advocacy groups and other third parties who may be acting on their behalf to influence climate change policy. Each of the columns above represents one relationship the corporation appears to have with such a third party. In these columns, the top, dark section represents the strength of the relationship the corporation has with the influencer. For example if a corporation's senior executive also held a key role in the trade association, we would deem this to be a strong relationship and it would be on the far left of the chart above, with the weaker ones to the right. Click on these grey shaded upper sections for details of these relationships. The middle section contains a link to the organization score details of the influencer concerned, so you can see the details of its climate change policy influence. Click on the middle sections for for details of the trade associations. The lower section contains the organization score of that influencer, the lower the more negatively it is influencing climate policy.
Open PDF file of Data Source
Climate Lobbying Overview: ExxonMobil appears to be unsupportive of most forms of climate regulation, whilst simultaneously promoting an energy policy agenda that would accelerate fossil fuel development. The company retains an extensive network of memberships to industry associations that actively oppose climate-related policy globally.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Overall, ExxonMobil issues high level statements that state support for climate action. However, these are often accompanied by caveats affecting the level of ambition or progression of emissions reductions. In the company’s Advancing Climate Solutions 2022 Progress Report from January 2022, ExxonMobil supported the need to reduce emissions in line with the 2 degree Celsius goal. Further, in July 2022, ExxonMobil released an update to this report in which it supported the Global Methane Pledge. It has also supported "society’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050" in a consultation submission in March 2021. However, this top-line support for emissions reductions, is often coupled with statements that appear to caution against rapid emissions reductions. For example, supporting the need for 'striking the right balance in meeting all of society's needs', as stated by Darren Woods in December 2021, as a counterbalance, rather than a complementary aim.
In regard to supporting the need for climate policy, ExxonMobil appears to support a specific combination of policies, focusing primarily around the company's support for an economy-wide carbon price. ExxonMobil frequently states that climate policies should be “sound”, market-driven, and focus on enabling “key technologies”, as revealed in its 2021 Annual Report, published in February 2022. Again, however, ExxonMobil's top line support for climate regulation is caveated with cautioning statements about the need to 'let market prices drive selection of solutions', and minimize regulatory complexity and administrative costs, as stated in its Political Contributions and Lobbying Report, accessed in January 2022. In December 2021, the company published a page on its website stating that government policies related to the US energy industry should remain limited to promoting the free market, and described current policies as 'broad regulatory overreach'.
Federal lobbying disclosure reports from ExxonMobil reveal the company lobbied on the Build Back Better Act in Q1 and Q2 in 2022, however the company has not disclosed its position.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Evidence suggests ExxonMobil has lobbied negatively on a number of policy streams. While the July 2022 update of Advancing Climate Solutions Report appeared to support a carbon tax, other evidence shows that the company’s support is undermined by major exceptions it specifies for the tax. For instance, ExxonMobil’s support for a carbon dividend plan initiated by the Climate Leadership Council (CLC) in its 2020 Energy & Carbon Summary comes with a number of caveats, which previously included the rollback of the US Clean Power Plan. As of August 2022, the CLC carbon dividend plan continues to advocate for 'significant regulatory simplification' to replace other regulations. Additionally, evidence from leaked videos of senior ExxonMobil officials reported by Channel 4 in June 2021 suggests that ExxonMobil's public support for a carbon tax is qualified by the belief that a tax will never be politically viable, and it is purely a "talking point" as opposed to genuine support. Furthermore, evidence from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that, in February 2021, Exxon opposed the introduction of a national carbon tax in the Netherlands in an email to the country’s Vice President’s Cabinet.
In terms of emissions regulation, in the July update of 2022 Advancing Climate Solutions report, ExxonMobil stated its support for the US Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan and methane emissions regulation in the EU. However, ExxonMobil submitted a proposal in January 2022 with a mixed position on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed methane standards. In this, ExxonMobil appeared to support extending the regulations to address flaring and supporting reducing methane emissions from existing sources immediately, rather than wait for state-level plans. However, it also appeared to support limiting the regulations to larger wells only, and does not support the EPA's proposal to allow local communities to monitor and report on large methane leaks affecting their communities. Further, on the methane leak detection provisions in the EPA proposal, ExxonMobil wrote a joint letter that did not support the proposal for frequent optical gas imaging (OGI) surveys, and instead stated that these surveys should be not required more than once annually. On non-methane GHG emissions standards, there is evidence to show that ExxonMobil advocated for weaker GHG standards for light duty vehicles in the US in November 2021.
ExxonMobil has declined to participate in CDP Climate Change Survey since 2018.
Positioning on Energy Transition: ExxonMobil strongly supports the long-term use of oil and gas in the energy mix and makes extensive use of social media advertising to communicate this position in 2020-2022, while also lobbying for the continued role for fossil fuels in regulations across the world. In the company’s testimony to the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce in April 2022, CEO Darren Woods appeared to support policies to encourage investment into additional oil and gas developments.
The company has also directly engaged on a range of policy and legislative items impacting the energy mix, including donating $1 million to oppose an Alaskan oil tax ballot initiative in 2020, and privately lobbying the US Congress against some climate provisions in President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill in 2021. In December 2021, ExxonMobil was reported to be opposing bans on fossil gas connections in new buildings in New York. A document obtained following FOI rules suggests ExxonMobil has lobbied in support of Ohio legislation, known as Senate Bill 33, which would criminalize protests against fossil fuel infrastructure, as reported by Drilled News in January 2021.
In the EU, according to an FOI of a meeting between ExxonMobil and DG Move (EU Department of Mobility and Transport), ExxonMobil appeared to try to persuade EU policymakers to promote low-carbon fuels alongside electrification for decarbonizing vehicles in April 2021. Furthermore, ExxonMobil reportedly lobbied to water down the focus on renewable hydrogen in the EU hydrogen strategy to focus instead on hydrogen generated from fossil gas in July 2020.
ExxonMobil has increasingly publicized its support for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS/CCUS) technologies in 2021-22, including on its corporate website. There is evidence in the Advancing Climate Solutions July 2022 Progress Update to suggest ExxonMobil is using its support for CCS to lobby for 'technology-neutral' policies, which treat fossil fuels with CCS on par with renewable energies. In April 2022, ExxonMobil submitted comments to US Council of Environmental Quality’s CCUS Guidance, advocating for a quicker and streamlined permitting process for CCUS infrastructure, without clarifying for what purpose CCUS should be deployed. On the website, when accessed in January 2022, ExxonMobil stated support for the enhancement to CCS Production Tax Credits (45Q) in the US. However, here it also appears to be asking for the removal of specific criteria designed to promote the construction of CCS, such as deadlines for starting construction.
Industry Association Governance: ExxonMobil has partially disclosed information regarding its indirect influence over climate policy via industry associations through its 2021 Climate Lobbying Report and has undertaken a review of 51 industry associations. However, apart from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the four associations in which the company had identified misalignment with, ExxonMobil has not specified details of its role in most of the organizations' governing bodies or influence over their climate change policy positions. ExxonMobil retains memberships to numerous industry associations that actively lobby against climate policy such as the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association, the Western States Petroleum Association and others. The company has identified misalignment with American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). While ExxonMobil has stated action to address misalignment, it has not conveyed the specific actions that will be undertaken to address them.
A detailed assessment of the company's corporate review on climate policy engagement can be found on InfluenceMap's CA100+ Investor Hub here.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information, see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q3 2022.