Summary
The leaders of major oil and gas companies testified at a tough hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill about their companies' roles in greenhouse gas emissions, the acceleration of climate change and allegations of past deception and misinformation. The testimony comes days before a global climate summit is set to begin. William Brangham reports.
Five Facts
-
Who
testified before Congress according to this piece?
-
What
sorts of misinformation did Congress members accuse oil companies of promoting?
-
Who
called the hearing a kind of "distraction" and "theater"?
-
What
does polling mentioned in this piece say about U.S. attitudes toward fossil fuels and climate change?
-
How
did oil executives push back against claims of lying or disinformation?
Focus Questions
Do you think lawmakers should find a way to penalize oil companies for misinformation about fossil fuels and climate change? Why or why not? Who do you think is most responsible for damage done by greenhouse gas emissions?
Media literacy:
Do you think this piece made clear the connection between oil company actions and climate change? If not, who might you want to hear from to better understand the connection?
For More
Explore ways that students can make a difference in pushing toward more renewable and less fossil fuel energy using
this full lesson plan
.
