United States – Exxon Mobil Climate Change Battle

October 27, 2017

  • United States – Exxon Mobil Climate Change Battle

Padmini Arhant

The legal battle between New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman representing the State of New York and world’s second largest energy corporation Exxon Mobil on Climate Change is an interesting development.  Considering the ongoing litigation, the topic will focus on political aspect besides other important names linked to climate change.

The serving Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as former CEO of Exxon Mobil is referenced in the contentious lawsuit.

The energy companies and environment woes are not uncommon resulting from negligence and activities endangering lives and habitat as seen in 2010 British Petroleum (BP) Gulf Coast oil spill disaster and several others by leading energy behemoths in different parts of the world.

As for climate change deniers, the energy companies are not the only ones in this category. Though they are prominent in fielding such opinion for economic interests, there are others viz. Fox News and Fox television Network with paid panelists and commentators actively disseminating climate change as hoax for they don’t accept the facts on man made calamity and environment abuse. The 24/7 news media misrepresentation on climate talks is not without impact.

Similarly, politics joining forces with energy companies are not unusual either. Following the BP refinery structure  collapse contributing to gulf coast catastrophe in 2010, then President Barack Obama administration had no problem approving BP continuation of deep and shallow water drilling in the backdrop of immense damages to environment costing lives, livelihoods and loss of native species both rare and generic.

The transformation pertaining to Secretary of State portfolio and the current political and international matter merits attention.

The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s position on foreign policy related to South East Asia, North Korea in particular, Middle East regarding United States key allies Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE on one side and adversary Iran on the other, not barring nuclear non-proliferation visibly at odds with White House stance.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s approach to resolving or in the least containing potential nuclear confrontation with North Korea is through constructive dialogue and diplomacy which apparently contradictory to White House public statement declaring the move – a waste of time.

Middle East – The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s concern over White House reaction to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) possibly via more sanctions at Israel and Saudi Arabia’s behest is legitimate given the accord stipulating reversal to pre-treaty situation upon either party default on the agreement.  Iran would resume nuclear program upon United States returning to sanctions and vice versa.

In the absence of any nuclear activity prior to and post JCPOA, there is no justification in imposing sanctions against Iran on nuclear status for that would unnecessarily foment tension in the region.

Syria – Ending the conflict by increasing ceasefire zones in the war torn nation and disarming terror factions in suspending weapons supply would expedite long awaited respite to Syrian population.

Saudi Arabia and UAE – Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggestion to White House to leverage Saudi Kingdom and UAE using recent arms deal to settle regional dispute between them and Qatar may not be in alignment with White House tactic.

Israel – Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s proposal to recover several million dollars aid (Israel is actually provided 3 billion dollars annual financial aid other than military assistance that was locked in as permanent arrangement by previous administration under ex-President Barack Obama) would not have synced in the current setting with advisors Jared Kushner and Ivanka Kushner representing Israel’s interests in the nepotism oriented appointment in the West Wing operation.

Last but not the least, the hot button issue – Nuclear proliferation. The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson preference in simmering nuclear ambitions is in contrast to White House nuclear acceleration and enhancement despite such aspirations posing credibility factor on nuclear disarmament of North Korea and defusing nuclear goals of Iran.

In light of the prevalent conditions, the insinuations on inevitable change to critical cabinet post Secretary of State handling foreign affairs is perhaps the ground work to substitute the voice of reason and sensibility with belligerence and acquiescence.

The duties and responsibilities consolidated under State Department in earlier administrations is abandoned by the present administration allocating Middle East relations to family member and advisor Jared Kushner and lately the assignment to U.S. ambassador to United Nations Nikki Haley visiting South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faced with protests necessitating the representative evacuation allude paradigm shift in State Department jurisdiction.

In comparison, the former head of the State Department Hillary Clinton during the first term of ex-President Barack Obama administration had none of the sharing with everything held under Secretary of State control including the Benghazi gate, secret email and private server scandal.

What appears from this stark distinction between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s soft power and hard line predecessors is the member favoring hawkish agenda regardless of political affiliation as witnessed in former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a democrat’s involvement in Syria, Libya, Egypt, Ukraine, Africa and Latin America exacerbating terrorism, political instability, chaos and destruction in semblance to former counterparts and others like U.S. ambassador to UN John Bolton, a republican now emulated by the current ambassador Nikki Haley guarantee job security and acknowledgment by those behind US foreign policy.

The compliance to egregious decisions and endeavors proved failures is evidently the course to retain sensitive designation such as the Secretary of State.

Peace to all!

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

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