ExxonMobil Not Very Concerned that Climate Change Regulations May Affect Business

New York, NY -- On the same day the world's scientists issued their latest report on climate change and the risks it poses to society, the nation's biggest oil and gas company said the world's climate policies are "highly unlikely" to stop it from selling fossil fuels far into the future.

Exxon Mobil issued a report Monday on the risks that climate change policies could pose to the value of its assets and future profitability, by coincidence on the same day as the latest paper by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a Nobel Prize-winning United Nations group assembled to assess the science and risks of climate change.

Both Exxon and its critics used IPCC research to bolster their cases.

Exxon's report was in response to the contentions of some shareholders and environmental activists that the assets underpinning the value of Exxon and other fossil fuel companies will be worth less as society restricts consumption of fossil fuels to fight climate change.

The report, the first detailed response to these concerns by a major oil company, acknowledges the need to adopt policies to address climate change. But it concludes that because oil and gas are so critical to global development and economic growth, governments are "highly unlikely" to adopt policies that cut emissions so sharply that fossil fuel consumption would be severely restricted.

"We know enough based on the research and science that the risk (of climate change) is real and appropriate steps should be taken to address that risk," Ken Cohen, Exxon's government affairs chief, said in an interview Monday. "But given the essential role that energy plays in everyone's lives, those steps need to be taken in context with other realities we face, including lifting much of the world's population out of poverty."

Natasha Lamb, director of equity research at Arjuna Capital, a sustainable wealth management group that filed the shareholder resolution with Exxon, called Exxon's report a "milestone."

"It's a huge first step in the right direction and it shows a lot of leadership," she said. Arjuna and As You Sow, a nonprofit that promotes environmental corporate responsibility, agreed to withdraw their resolution after Exxon agreed to issue a report on climate risks.

But Lamb said she was disappointed that Exxon declined to explain what would happen if society did in fact adopt policies that would lead to sharply lower emissions, something known broadly as a low-carbon standard.

"The question is not whether or not we'll face the low carbon standard, but whether they are prepared to address it. We need to know what's at stake," she said. "But at least now investors know that Exxon is not addressing the low carbon scenario and (is) placing investor capital at risk."

Exxon and the environmental groups agree that climate change is a risk and that society will take steps to reduce emissions from fossil fuels to slow the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They differ, however, on how drastic society's response could be, and what would cost more — severely restricting fossil fuel consumption or not doing so and allowing more carbon dioxide to build in the atmosphere.

Exxon, along with other private and government energy researchers, believes that demand for fossil fuels will continue to grow around the world as more people demand access to electricity, heat, and transportation. Exxon predicts that carbon dioxide emissions from energy sources will peak by about 2030 and then begin to decline as society becomes more efficient and switches to lower-carbon fuels.

The Irving, Texas-based company's report notes that its emissions predictions track closely with the IPCC's "intermediate" scenario considered in its last report.

Exxon says that renewable energy sources are not now cheap enough nor technologically advanced enough to meet growing demand for energy, let alone also replace oil and gas. Governments therefore face a choice between restricting access to energy or raising the cost of energy significantly. In Exxon's view, governments will chose to raise the cost of fossil fuels to encourage alternatives somewhat, but stop well short of enacting policies that will sharply curtail consumption, especially in developing countries, because populations would resist and social upheaval would result.

Arjuna Capital's Lamb disagrees. "There's greater risk of social upheaval from climate change itself," Arjuna Capital's Lamb says. "(Exxon's report) ignores the cost of inaction."

Lamb points to some of the conclusions in the latest IPCC report, which says climate change will worsen problems that society already has, such as poverty, sickness, violence and displacement.

The report also says climate change will slow down the benefits of a modernizing society, such as regular economic growth and more efficient crop production — exactly the types of things that Exxon argues are delivered now only by relatively cheap and available fossil fuels.

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ExxonMobil contributes to the recovery and relief efforts in Japan

{"s": "Xom", "k": "a00, a50, b00, b60, c10, g00, h00, l10, p20, t10, v00", "o": "","j": ""} Press release Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation on Wednesday March 16, 2010, 1: 14 on the EDT

IRVING, Texas (BUSINESS WIRE)--Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM - News) said today it would $1 million to the Japanese Red Cross Society for disaster relief assistance in response to the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan donations. The company has a worldwide programme according to employees, retirees, distributors and retailers donations to the Japanese emergency aid, up to another 2 million $ implements.

"ExxonMobil and its employees deeply suffered the devastation and loss of life the people of Japan of this terrible event, are saddened," said Rex W. Tillerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

ExxonMobil related companies employ approximately 2,800 people in Japan, and have oil and petrochemical refineries and distribution, gas and power marketing and project engineering companies in the country.

ExxonMobil yugen Kaisha and Proton General, ExxonMobil's operations in Japan, work closely with Japanese authorities on the adequate fuel supply to emergency responders and the areas hit, to support the recovery.

"Our people are exceptional efforts to maximize gasoline production at our refineries and stable supply of our service centres, especially in the most affected areas, to deliver," said Philippe Ducom, Representative Director of ExxonMobil yugen Kaisha and President of the Proton General Sekiyu k.k. "our Kawasaki refinery is its local makes production to help to the densely populated Kanto electricity supply companies maximize area."

About ExxonMobil

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM - News) and ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States, are involved in a number of philanthropic activities that promote education, health, women's economic leadership and public policy in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve the mathematics and science education at the K-12 and higher education. Worldwide promotes ExxonMobil help women their economic potential and fight against malaria and other infectious diseases in the developing countries to meet. In the year 2010 ExxonMobil together with its employees and pensioners and the ExxonMobil Foundation $ 237 million in contributions made available worldwide. More information on ExxonMobil's community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

About the ExxonMobil Japan group

The ExxonMobil Japan group consists of ExxonMobil yugen Kaisha and its affiliates and subsidiaries including Proton General Sekiyu k.k. and is a leading manufacturer and marketer fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals in Japan of crude oil. Elements of the Group was in 1893 in Japan. ExxonMobil yugen Kaisha 100 is indirect subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States %. Proton General Sekiyu k.k., a subsidiary of ExxonMobil yugen Kaisha, the 50.02 percent of the shares, is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information, see our websites www.exxonmobil.jp and www.tonengeneral.co.jp.

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