Exxon
Yesterday's New York Times quotes Rex Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobil, warning the world that "governments should not rush into policies that could damage the global economy in order to limit carbon emissions."
As the Times notes, the mere concession that carbon emissions are in some way problematic represents a major shift for Exxon Mobil, which has consistently denied not just the role of such emissions in global warming but the fact of global warming itself.
Or maybe not much of a shift after all. As the Times continues:
"Mr. Tillerson’s remarks were his first formal and extensive comments since the publication of a report two weeks ago by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a leading panel of international scientists and reviewers, concluding that there is 90 percent certainty that human activity is decisive in changing the global climate.
"Mr. Tillerson told reporters that he had not read the report but said, 'My understanding is there’s not a clear 100 percent conclusion drawn.' He added: 'Nobody can conclusively 100 percent know how this is going to play out. I think that’s important.'”
Isn't that wonderful? As the water rises, the chief executive of the world's largest corporation, admitting that he hasn't even bothered to read the IPCC report, takes comfort from its conclusion that there is only 90 percent certainty that his conduct, and that of his company, is to blame. At this rate, he won't concede that the water is rising until it's lapping over the tops of his wingtips.
Can there be any doubt that the modern corporation is today the single greatest force for harm in the world? The only real question is whether corporations actively corrupt human beings, who might behave better as individuals, or whether they merely provide a shield, an excuse, for the expression of our inherent rapaciousness. Hard to say, but crystal clear we would be better off without them.
It's unlikely, of course, but, who knows, with the help of Rex Tillerson and his ilk, the day may yet come.
