Oil Industry’s Donations to Universities Exposed as Tactic to Sidestep Climate Accountability, Congressional Investigators Reveal.

The oil and gas industry has been using its financial support for top academic institutions to obscure contradictions between its climate commitments and plans to expand drilling, according to internal corporate communications released by congressional investigators. The documents reveal that oil majors have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to top universities to build relationships that could help the industry avoid taking climate action. The partnerships are being exposed amid increasing pressure on the industry from regulators, investors, and student activists about the increasing financial and human toll of hurricanes, wildfires, and climate-related disasters. The findings will be addressed at a hearing before the Senate Budget Committee, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md), ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, inviting Rep. Joe Swarcher (D), leading the investigation into the oil industry’s role in exacerbating climate crisis.