RESPONSE TO ESSO STATEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

8 December 1997

Greenpeace today challenged Esso to make a statement on its commitment to a sustainable energy future based on renewable energy sources. Esso did make a statement, but failed to take up the challenge of renewable energy.

Esso's statement shows that the company continues to deny the full seriousness of the impacts of climate change on societies, economies and the environment. Esso continues to doubt the science of climate change and to put off taking action.

Esso is wilfully ignoring scientific consensus, political concern and public opinion about the dangers of climate change. The company is vainly attempting to keep alive the outdated notion that our future can cope with burning an ever increasing amount of fossil fuels. Esso risks, as a senior executive of Ford Motors put it, 'being marginalised in the court of public opinion'.

The position that Esso has adopted on this issue has effectively isolated it amongst even its own industry. Some of its main competitors have acknowledged that climate change is a serious issue on which urgent action must be taken, and these companies have also begun to invest in the solution; renewable energy.

Greenpeace Oil Campaigner Liz Pratt said, "It is time for Esso to face up to its responsibility for protecting the climate and to acknowledge that a planned phase-out of fossil fuels, replaced by renewable forms of energy, is the only way to protect the climate."

In a straw-poll outside Esso's Headquarters in London yesterday, nearly 700 people voted with 98% saying that Esso should take responsibility for climate protection.

Liz Pratt, "the company's own staff believe Esso should change its ways but sadly the message still hasn't got through."

For Further Information

Contact Greenpeace Press Office on 0171 865 8255/6/7/8