Summary

  • Top oil executives are testifying before Congress amid accusations their companies misled the public about climate change

  • Democrat lawmakers say the industry spent decades denying its products' role in global warming

  • ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron and Shell bosses all deny approving any climate disinformation campaigns

  • The hearings open a year of investigations into energy giants, Democrats say

  • They also come days before world leaders gather in Glasgow for the UN's COP26 climate conference

  • World leaders will be pressed in Glasgow on their plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and thereby reduce warming

Live Reporting

Edited by Vicky Baker

  1. America is 'world's leader in producing cleaner energy'

    Michael Cloud, a Louisiana Republican representative, asks where the US is currently ranking in producing energy responsibly compared with other major producers like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and Iraq.

    "The United States continues to produce these products in a way that are safer, better, and more responsibly produced from the environmental perspective than any country on earth," answers Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute.

  2. BP: 'We are committed to correcting deficiencies'

    The BP facility in Whiting, IndianaGetty Images

    The BP facility in Whiting, Indiana

    Democrat Mike Quigley is now turning to BP, asking about the company's plan to upgrade and improve its systems, given how many leaks BP is responsible for in the past two decades.

    "I am aware of the incidents that have occurred," says BP's David Lawler.

    "We take the safety of the community and the safety of our employees very important. And that includes the safety of the water and the air that's in the area," he adds.

    Mr Quigley, asks specifically about the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana - one of the largest refineries in the US. He says that a leak occurred recently in an area where children swim.

    "We are dedicating resources to correcting any deficiencies at the Whiting refinery that we find," continues Mr Lawler, promising to update the committee later on what exactly is being done.

  3. Who are the executives being quizzed

    For those who have just joined us, six oil industry leaders are taking the stand at the hearing.

    They are:

    • Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil
    • David Lawler, CEO of BP America
    • Michael K Wirth, CEO of Chevron
    • Gretchen Watkins, president of Shell
    • Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute. API is the oil industry's main trade group and has often been criticised for standing in the way of climate action and regulation.
    • Suzanne Clark, president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce. It is the largest lobbying group in the US, representing over three million businesses, including oil companies.

  4. The grilling is back on after the break

    Welcome back to our live coverage of a hearing in the US Congress, where top executives from American oil giants are being quizzed over accusations they misled the public over the reality of climate change.

    The hearing at the House of Representatives Oversight Committee has just restarted following a 10-minute break.

    Stay with us, as we'll be bringing you all the latest from Congress, as well as analysis from our correspondents.

  5. Ten-minute break

    The committee has now taken a 10 minute break, which Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, says comes at the "request of the panelists".

    It's now 13:35 local time in Washington.

  6. Republicans slammed for 'denialism'

    Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin begins his questions by slamming the Republican Party, and Donald Trump, for being the party of "denialism".

    Trump, he reminds the CEOs, referred to climate change as a "Chinese hoax" throughout his political career.

    "Trump's party has turned the denial of facts, science and history into standard operating procedure," says Raskin.

    "We cannot afford any more propaganda campaigns by corporations subsidised by the government against public policies designed to save humanity," he adds.

    Environmental groups, including Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, have called for the Biden administration and Congress to do away with subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.

    Raskin finishes by saying that he would hope that companies that have received so much money from taxpayers "at the very least would not lie about climate change".

  7. 'Crickets' and carbon prices

    Jim CooperHouse Oversight Committee

    Democrat Jim Cooper, of Tennessee, is interrogating each executive on carbon taxes and government subsidies.

    Each executive equivocates on what they think an appropriate carbon price would be and how much their government subsidies are worth.

    BP's David Lawler says he cannot offer a price today, Exxon's Darren Woods says the price depends on many factors and Chevron's Michael Wirth says there are several opinions.

    "The price of carbon - what should it be?" asks Cooper, in a deadpan monotone.

    "Crickets," he notes.

  8. What is greenwashing?

    Reality Check

    This term has come up a great deal in connection with energy company advertising.

    It's when a firm implies that it or its products are more environmentally friendly than they actually are.

    Fossil fuel companies have been accused of it when they advertise their efforts to develop renewables despite spending far more on oil and gas production and research.

    Greenwashing is not limited to the energy sector. Clothing companies, and the food and beverage industry have also been accused of it in the past.

    See our recent BBC Panorama investigation into Coca Cola's advertising practices.

  9. 'Democrats are masters of misinformation'

    Jody HiceHouse Oversight Committee

    Jody Hice, a Republican from Georgia, is taking his Democratic counterparts to task over holding this hearing.

    He says the party has aligned with the news media to make a worst-case climate scenario appear to be the most likely.

    "Democrats have shamelessly scared an entire generation of children," he alleges.

    He goes on that they are "masters of accusing others of what they themselves are guilty of - misinformation".

    Hice adds that the Green New Deal climate proposal is "a how-do-you-change-the-whole -economy bill" and has "nothing to do with the environment".

    Thousands have lost their jobs, he complains, including union jobs that "Democrats like to crow about".

  10. 'Don't you monitor where your money is going?'

    Subcommittee chairman Ro Khanna is calling out oil executives for what he says are empty public statements and commitments.

    Khanna says if they were really serious about climate action, they would commit to independent audits and leave trade associations such as the American Petroleum Institute.

    He urges the oil companies to turn to API president Mike Sommers and leave the group over its alleged role in funding climate denialism.

    "Don't you think have some sort of obligation to monitor where the money is going?" he asks.

  11. Why lobbying groups have been called to testify

    Climate activists have focused their ire on the US Chamber of CommerceGetty Images

    Climate activists have focused their ire on the US Chamber of Commerce

    Today's hearing features testimony from top executives of the American Petroleum Institute and the US Chamber of Commerce.

    API is the oil industry's main trade group and its corporate members include some of the largest oil companies in the world.

    API president Mike Sommers, who is speaking at today's hearing, formerly worked for the Republican Party in the US Congress. He also sat on President George W Bush's national economic council.

    The organisation has often been criticised for standing in the way of climate action. It recently led the way in lobbying against a proposed methane rule, which the Biden administration had pledged to implement.

    The US Chamber of Commerce is the largest lobbying group in the US, representing over three million businesses.

    The Chamber is touting its “market-based solutions to reduce emissions and support US competitiveness”.

    But critics have slammed it as "the Chamber of Carbon" for its role in lobbying against climate legislation.

  12. 'Oil executives are the innovators'

    Garret Graves, a Republican from Louisiana, says the hearing is just another way of demonising Americans.

    He points out that energy demand remains high, adding that every member of Congress uses fossil fuels to travel to Washington every week.

    "The world is going to use oil and gas for many more years to come," one oil executive concurs.

    "There's going to be continued demand for energy," says Representative Graves. "We produce it most efficiently in the US, so why would we stop?"

    He calls on the committee to stop demonising the oil companies and the executives on the witness stand.

    "These are the innovators!"

  13. All execs deny approving disinformation campaigns

    The committee's leading Republican, James Comer, questions each oil executive on whether they have ever approved climate-disinformation campaigns.

    All four say no.

  14. Laid-off welder speaks to committee

    Neal CrabtreeHouse Oversight Committee

    Neal Crabtree

    The Republican witness, Neal Crabtree, a welder who lost his job after President Biden cancelled the Keystone XL oil pipeline, is speaking to the committee.

    He says Biden has not apologised to him for losing his job. "I'm just a simple welder, I wouldn't expect an apology," he says.

    "It's a terrible time to be a worker" under Biden, Republican committee member James Comer remarks.

    Comer had earlier indicated that he intends to pin high energy prices on President Biden’s climate agenda.

  15. 'Stop spending money on lies'

    Carolyn MaloneyHouse Oversight Committee

    An angry Chairwoman Maloney asks each executive to take a pledge that they will stop funding efforts to deny or suppress evidence or research into climate change.

    None of the responses seem to satiate her.

    In one testy exchange, she raises her voice to say: "Stop spending money on lies!"

    She calls on the witnesses to "join the many good corporate citizens, scientists and other people working to end this climate catastrophe".

  16. 'This reminds me of the tobacco hearings'

    Much of the onus for this hearing came from a recording of an ExxonMobil lobbyist, Keith McCoy, admitting earlier this year that the firm fought climate science for years.

    Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney tells Exxon CEO Darren Woods that she is "disappointed" by his testimony so far.

    She reminds Woods that, in 1994, tobacco executives lied to Congress and paid for it.

    "I was hoping that you would not be like the tobacco industry and lie about this," she says.

    Woods defends the company's actions, arguing that Exxon's messaging and research has been "consistent with the general climate consensus".

  17. Executives quizzed over climate threat

    In a round of quickfire questions, Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney asks if any of the executives disagree with the statement: "climate change is an existential threat".

    None of the witnesses speak.

    "So, the truth is clear," Maloney says.

  18. Chevron boss: Claim we spread disinformation is wrong

    Chevron CEO Michael Wirth has hit back at the accusation his firm has promoted disinformation on climate change.

    In his opening statement, the oil executive says "climate change is real" and rejects the claim the company has misled people over climate change.

    "While our views on climate change have developed over time, any suggestion that Chevron is engaged in an effort to spread disinformation and mislead the public on these complex issues is simply wrong," he says.

  19. In pictures: A week of climate action

    Subcommittee chairman Ro Khanna referenced climate protests in Washington DC a short while ago.

    The weeklong demonstrations brought in protesters from leading climate activist groups like Extinction Rebellion and the Sunrise Movement. Hundreds were arrested.

    Protesters coalesced outside the White HouseGetty Images

    Protesters gathered outside the White House

    Hundreds were arrested by police throughout the weekGetty Images

    Hundreds were arrested by police throughout the week

    Some demonstrators scaled or occupied multiple buildings in downtown Washington, including the US Chamber of CommerceGetty Images

    Some demonstrators scaled or occupied multiple buildings in downtown Washington, including the US Chamber of Commerce

    Indigenous climate activists rallied outside the White House on Indigenous Peoples' DayGetty Images

    Indigenous climate activists rallied outside the White House on Indigenous Peoples' Day

  20. What are the impacts of climate change in the US?

    Reality Check

    Carolyn Maloney, chairing the hearing, said "today we face stronger hurricanes, dangerous fires, and destructive floods"

    The most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) into the impacts of climate change found that the US region will see temperature increases significantly larger than the global average.

    In 2020, California and Oregon experienced the worst wildfires seen in 18 years, with an economic impact of more than $20 billion.

    The IPCC has reported that, due to climate change, increases in drought and fires will be expected in western and central North America in coming years.

    Tropical storms are also expected to become more extreme across the East Coast and US Gulf Cost.

    Last year the US experienced the most named storms on record with Hurricane Sally bringing the highest water levels since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.