How ExxonMobil Uses Big Tobacco’s Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that ExxonMobil funded a network of ideological organizations to deceive the public about global warming. By spending approximately $16 million between 1998 and 2005, the company promoted a small group of contrarian scientists and used 'information laundering' through front groups to create a false impression of scientific debate. The report details how these tactics mirror the tobacco industry's historical efforts to hide the links between smoking and disease. Furthermore, the document outlines ExxonMobil's influence on the George W. Bush administration, including the appointment of climate negotiators and the censorship of government scientific reports.

• ExxonMobil utilized a disinformation strategy modeled after the tobacco industry, focusing on manufacturing uncertainty and using front organizations to confuse the public.
• Between 1998 and 2005, ExxonMobil provided approximately $16 million to a network of advocacy and ideological organizations that promoted climate disinformation.
• The company created an 'echo chamber' by funding multiple organizations that shared the same small group of scientific spokespeople and contrarians to amplify discredited research.
• ExxonMobil used the concept of 'sound science' as a rhetorical tool to shift the debate away from its own behavior and delay emissions reductions.
• The corporation exerted significant influence over the George W. Bush administration, including successfully lobbying to remove Robert Watson as chair of the IPCC in 2002.
• Philip Cooney, a former lawyer for the American Petroleum Institute, served in the White House Council on Environmental Quality and censored government reports to exaggerate scientific uncertainty.
• ExxonMobil's financial influence extended to members of Congress, such as Representative Joe Barton, who used his position to block global warming regulations and attack climate scientists.
• The report identifies specific personnel who transitioned from tobacco industry disinformation roles to roles within ExxonMobil's climate campaign, including Steven Milloy and Frederick Seitz.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2007). How ExxonMobil Uses Big Tobacco’s Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/exxon_report.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. How ExxonMobil Uses Big Tobacco’s Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science. 2007. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/exxon_report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=How ExxonMobil Uses Big Tobacco’s Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science |date=January 2007 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/exxon_report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2007how, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{How ExxonMobil Uses Big Tobacco’s Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2007}, month = jan, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/exxon_report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }