Darwin Varela is carried into and ambulance after suffering from dehydration on July 18, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas amid an ongoing heatwave.
This Killer Heat Is Brought to You by Big Oil: It’s Time for Fossil Fuel Giants to Pay Up
Financial damages owed by these climate outlaws can fund adaptation, relief efforts, and an accelerated transition to clean energy.
As extreme heat bakes Europe and North America, the fossil fuel industry’s decades of deception are coming home to roost.
Make no mistake: These deadly record-shattering temperatures were directly caused by the climate crisis, itself the result of unchecked burning of oil, gas and coal. And for decades, big polluters deliberately hid the consequences.
Internal documents prove that oil giants like Exxon and Shell understood the climate impacts of their products as far back as the 1970s. But rather than warn the public, they orchestrated a massive disinformation campaign to bury the truth and block action. Those efforts continue today, with the fossil fuel industry spending billions on greenwashing advertisements touting their commitment to renewables, while in reality, they’re all walking away from their climate commitments.
No industry raked in larger profits this century than Big Oil. Yet no entity on Earth bears greater responsibility for the extreme heat threatening lives today.
These rogue companies made billions peddling products they knew would cook the planet. All while forcing the rest of us to bear the escalating costs—from wildfires and heat stroke to crop failures and swollen utility bills. While Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, sits in his air conditioned office, plotting how the company can drill for more oil and beatback climate regulations, delivery workers, farmers, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations are literally risking their lives in the midst of this extreme heat.
No industry raked in larger profits this century than Big Oil. Yet no entity on Earth bears greater responsibility for the extreme heat threatening lives today. Fossil fuel corporations could have reinvented themselves decades ago to lead the renewable revolution. Instead their greed led them to double down on pollution—while brazenly advertising themselves as climate champions.
Last year, the fossil fuel industry raked in $220 billion in profits, thanks to the war in Ukraine that they helped cause by partnering with Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand the oil and gas production fueling Russia’s war machine. But instead of investing those profits in renewables, oil companies rewarded their CEOs and wealthy shareholders with more bonuses and dividends.
The game is up. Climate accountability demands these corporate arsonists pay firefighting costs associated with the heatwaves they deliberately ignited.
Price gouging at the pumps has boosted Big Oil’s profits to obscene heights. Those windfalls must be taxed aggressively to help cover damages in marginalized communities ravaged by climate impacts. Heat-vulnerable populations need assistance now for medical bills, home weatherization, energy subsidies, and other lifesaving support. And we need to be pumping even more money into efforts to rapidly scale the clean energy systems that can free us from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuel payments will not fully repay the unfolding toll of displaced families, ecological unraveling, and lost lives. But financial damages owed by these climate outlaws can fund adaptation, relief efforts, and an accelerated transition to clean energy.
Make no mistake, the fossil fuel empire wants to keep collecting profits while the rest of humanity pays for their mess. But we cannot allow business as usual to continue. Climate justice demands polluters pay for the hellish heat they knew their products would create.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
As extreme heat bakes Europe and North America, the fossil fuel industry’s decades of deception are coming home to roost.
Make no mistake: These deadly record-shattering temperatures were directly caused by the climate crisis, itself the result of unchecked burning of oil, gas and coal. And for decades, big polluters deliberately hid the consequences.
Internal documents prove that oil giants like Exxon and Shell understood the climate impacts of their products as far back as the 1970s. But rather than warn the public, they orchestrated a massive disinformation campaign to bury the truth and block action. Those efforts continue today, with the fossil fuel industry spending billions on greenwashing advertisements touting their commitment to renewables, while in reality, they’re all walking away from their climate commitments.
No industry raked in larger profits this century than Big Oil. Yet no entity on Earth bears greater responsibility for the extreme heat threatening lives today.
These rogue companies made billions peddling products they knew would cook the planet. All while forcing the rest of us to bear the escalating costs—from wildfires and heat stroke to crop failures and swollen utility bills. While Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, sits in his air conditioned office, plotting how the company can drill for more oil and beatback climate regulations, delivery workers, farmers, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations are literally risking their lives in the midst of this extreme heat.
No industry raked in larger profits this century than Big Oil. Yet no entity on Earth bears greater responsibility for the extreme heat threatening lives today. Fossil fuel corporations could have reinvented themselves decades ago to lead the renewable revolution. Instead their greed led them to double down on pollution—while brazenly advertising themselves as climate champions.
Last year, the fossil fuel industry raked in $220 billion in profits, thanks to the war in Ukraine that they helped cause by partnering with Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand the oil and gas production fueling Russia’s war machine. But instead of investing those profits in renewables, oil companies rewarded their CEOs and wealthy shareholders with more bonuses and dividends.
The game is up. Climate accountability demands these corporate arsonists pay firefighting costs associated with the heatwaves they deliberately ignited.
Price gouging at the pumps has boosted Big Oil’s profits to obscene heights. Those windfalls must be taxed aggressively to help cover damages in marginalized communities ravaged by climate impacts. Heat-vulnerable populations need assistance now for medical bills, home weatherization, energy subsidies, and other lifesaving support. And we need to be pumping even more money into efforts to rapidly scale the clean energy systems that can free us from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuel payments will not fully repay the unfolding toll of displaced families, ecological unraveling, and lost lives. But financial damages owed by these climate outlaws can fund adaptation, relief efforts, and an accelerated transition to clean energy.
Make no mistake, the fossil fuel empire wants to keep collecting profits while the rest of humanity pays for their mess. But we cannot allow business as usual to continue. Climate justice demands polluters pay for the hellish heat they knew their products would create.
- 'They're Ripping Us Off': BP Profits Could Pay Energy Bills of 9.4 Million UK Households ›
- 'Another Terrible Failure': COP27 Ends With No Action to Cut Off Climate-Wrecking Fossil Fuels ›
- 'Twisted': BP and Shell CEOs See Pay Double as Workers Struggle to Heat Homes ›
- Make Big Oil Pay to Clean Up Their Mess on Public Lands, Coalition Tells Interior Dept ›
- Fossil Fuels Made Up 82% of Global Energy Consumption in 2022: New Data ›
- Fossil Fuel Giants Urged to 'Pay Up' After Tropical Cyclone Freddy Kills 300+ ›
- Opinion | Exxon Still Has its Foot on the Accelerator of the Climate Emergency | Common Dreams ›
- 'Scathing Indictment' of Big Oil Lies Unveiled on Eve of Senate Hearing | Common Dreams ›
As extreme heat bakes Europe and North America, the fossil fuel industry’s decades of deception are coming home to roost.
Make no mistake: These deadly record-shattering temperatures were directly caused by the climate crisis, itself the result of unchecked burning of oil, gas and coal. And for decades, big polluters deliberately hid the consequences.
Internal documents prove that oil giants like Exxon and Shell understood the climate impacts of their products as far back as the 1970s. But rather than warn the public, they orchestrated a massive disinformation campaign to bury the truth and block action. Those efforts continue today, with the fossil fuel industry spending billions on greenwashing advertisements touting their commitment to renewables, while in reality, they’re all walking away from their climate commitments.
No industry raked in larger profits this century than Big Oil. Yet no entity on Earth bears greater responsibility for the extreme heat threatening lives today.
These rogue companies made billions peddling products they knew would cook the planet. All while forcing the rest of us to bear the escalating costs—from wildfires and heat stroke to crop failures and swollen utility bills. While Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, sits in his air conditioned office, plotting how the company can drill for more oil and beatback climate regulations, delivery workers, farmers, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations are literally risking their lives in the midst of this extreme heat.
No industry raked in larger profits this century than Big Oil. Yet no entity on Earth bears greater responsibility for the extreme heat threatening lives today. Fossil fuel corporations could have reinvented themselves decades ago to lead the renewable revolution. Instead their greed led them to double down on pollution—while brazenly advertising themselves as climate champions.
Last year, the fossil fuel industry raked in $220 billion in profits, thanks to the war in Ukraine that they helped cause by partnering with Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand the oil and gas production fueling Russia’s war machine. But instead of investing those profits in renewables, oil companies rewarded their CEOs and wealthy shareholders with more bonuses and dividends.
The game is up. Climate accountability demands these corporate arsonists pay firefighting costs associated with the heatwaves they deliberately ignited.
Price gouging at the pumps has boosted Big Oil’s profits to obscene heights. Those windfalls must be taxed aggressively to help cover damages in marginalized communities ravaged by climate impacts. Heat-vulnerable populations need assistance now for medical bills, home weatherization, energy subsidies, and other lifesaving support. And we need to be pumping even more money into efforts to rapidly scale the clean energy systems that can free us from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuel payments will not fully repay the unfolding toll of displaced families, ecological unraveling, and lost lives. But financial damages owed by these climate outlaws can fund adaptation, relief efforts, and an accelerated transition to clean energy.
Make no mistake, the fossil fuel empire wants to keep collecting profits while the rest of humanity pays for their mess. But we cannot allow business as usual to continue. Climate justice demands polluters pay for the hellish heat they knew their products would create.
- 'They're Ripping Us Off': BP Profits Could Pay Energy Bills of 9.4 Million UK Households ›
- 'Another Terrible Failure': COP27 Ends With No Action to Cut Off Climate-Wrecking Fossil Fuels ›
- 'Twisted': BP and Shell CEOs See Pay Double as Workers Struggle to Heat Homes ›
- Make Big Oil Pay to Clean Up Their Mess on Public Lands, Coalition Tells Interior Dept ›
- Fossil Fuels Made Up 82% of Global Energy Consumption in 2022: New Data ›
- Fossil Fuel Giants Urged to 'Pay Up' After Tropical Cyclone Freddy Kills 300+ ›
- Opinion | Exxon Still Has its Foot on the Accelerator of the Climate Emergency | Common Dreams ›
- 'Scathing Indictment' of Big Oil Lies Unveiled on Eve of Senate Hearing | Common Dreams ›