This afternoon, the American Petroleum Institute appropriated Earth Day with a blog post promoting its so-called “Climate Action Framework” – a scientifically dubious, industry-centered plan to address climate change with the continued use of fossil fuels. In response, Accountable.US released the following statement: 

“API spent the Trump years and decades before fighting efforts to address climate change. In fact, it made the situation worse by actively working to weaken commonsense regulations around greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants,” said Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US. “Whether it is on Earth Day or any other day, API’s public relations gimmicks can’t erase its decades-long record of denying climate science and fighting meaningful efforts to address the climate crisis. This so-called ‘Climate Action Framework’ is further proof API simply cannot be trusted.” 

Rhetoric v. Reality 

What You Need to Know About API’s “Climate Action Framework” 

RHETORIC: API Is Pushing Continued Reliance On Fossil Fuels (with Government Funding) to Combat Climate Change  

  • API’s Industry Action Plan Including Accelerating Technology And Innovation Including Carbon Capture And Hydrogen Technology.  [API, Climate Action Framework, accessed 03/30/21]  
  • API Is Asking For “Full Federal Funding” Of Carbon Capture Technology. [API, Climate Action Framework, accessed 03/30/21]  
  • Fossil Fuel Producers, Utilities, And Trade Union Announced A New Push For “Clean” Hydrogen And Carbon Capture, Asking For Incentives For Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production. [E&E News, 03/23/21]  

REALITY: “Clean” Alternatives Lack Clear Scientific Evidence About Their Efficacy, With API Itself Acknowledging The Tech For Net-Zero Isn’t There  

  • Environmentalists Have Raised Concerns Over Carbon Capture Technology And Blue Hydrogen That Still Relies On Fossil Fuels And The Lack Of Clear Science Around It. [E&E News, 03/23/21]  
  • Previous Carbon Capture Plans Have “Struggled To Show Long-Term Commercial Success.” [E&E News, 03/22/21]  
  • API CEO Mike Sommers Dismissed Net-Zero Goals As “Aspirational” But Lacking Technology Or Cost Efficiency. [E&E News, 03/02/21]  
  • Carbon Air Capture Plans Are Not Guaranteed To Solve Climate Problems EvenIf All Other Barriers To Their Development And Implementation Are Passed. [BBC, 03/11/21]  

REALITY: API’s Plan Continues Our Reliance On Fossil Fuels, Ignoring All The Associated Health And Environmental Risk   

  • Environmentalists Have Raised Concerns Over Carbon Capture Technology And Blue Hydrogen That Still Relies On Fossil Fuels And The Lack Of Clear Science Around It. [E&E News, 03/23/21]  
  • Carbon Capture Address Emissions From The Source, Failing To Account For Emissions That Occur When People Use Fossil Fuels. [BBC, 03/11/21]  
  • The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Emphasized The Need To Reduce Emissions, Not Just Rely On Greenhouse Gas Removal. [KRQE, 03/28/21]  
  • 1 In 5 Deaths Globally In 2018 Were Caused By Pollution From Fossil Fuels. [E&E News, 02/09/21]  
  • In 2021, ExxonMobil Revealed That 570M Metric Tons Of Emissions Come From Use Of Its Products. [E&E News, 01/06/21]  

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