Last week's poll: energy companies and the climate crisis

Later this month Exxon Mobil is going on trial in New York accused of lying to its investors and misrepresenting the economic risk of climate change to its business. It’s alleged that the US energy giant is one of several petroleum companies that conducted research into climate change and its causes as far back as the 1980s, with some accurately predicting the effect on sea level rises and the increase in extreme weather events.

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Misleading investors is one thing, but what about misleading the public and intentionally muddying the waters on climate science for decades? Should energy companies face financial or even criminal penalties for their actions? Our readers were quite evenly split on the issue, with 42 per cent saying that energy companies should contribute financially to mitigation efforts. Right behind that, 39 per cent felt that no responsibility rests with the companies and they have simply been providing essential natural resources to power the global economy. Just nine per cent thought the energy industry should face criminal action, while 10 per cent chose the 'none of the above' option.