Susan Avery, the first climate scientist on ExxonMobil's board, is stepping down after seven years without significant progress on the company's climate policies.
Emily Sanders reports for DeSmog.
In short:
- Susan Avery, a physicist and atmospheric scientist, joined ExxonMobil’s board in 2017, hoping to influence the company's climate policies.
- Despite her presence, ExxonMobil continued to spread climate disinformation and recently sued shareholders advocating for emissions reductions.
- Avery's departure coincides with increased shareholder activism and legal pressures on ExxonMobil regarding its climate actions.
Key quote:
“People wanted to give her an opportunity to change things from within... [that responsibility] certainly has not borne out in reality.”
— Kathy Mulvey, Union of Concerned Scientists
Why this matters:
ExxonMobil's ongoing resistance to climate accountability emphasizes the challenges faced by insiders trying to push for environmental reform within major fossil fuel companies. Will Avery’s exit serve as a wake-up call for ExxonMobil and similar companies to reassess their commitments to environmental sustainability?
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