{"id":361141,"date":"2025-01-09T09:42:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T08:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=361141"},"modified":"2025-01-09T09:47:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T08:47:59","slug":"californias-exxon-lawsuit-is-guided-more-by-symbols-than-actions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=361141","title":{"rendered":"California\u2019s Exxon Lawsuit Is Guided More by Symbols Than Actions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Nate Scherer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of\u00a0corporate social responsibility<\/a>\u00a0is not new. For years, there has been a\u00a0push<\/a>\u00a0for companies to act in a more socially responsible manner, specifically as it relates to\u00a0environmental stewardship<\/a>. While environmental stewardship is important, concerns about sustainability must be balanced carefully with consumer interests. The nation\u2019s most populous state increasingly appears to have forgotten this important fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

California is suing<\/a> oil and gas giant ExxonMobil for alleged \u201cdeceptive public messaging surrounding plastics recycling\u201d and its culpability in \u201cthe plastic waste and pollution crisis.\u201d Unfortunately, the lawsuit is extremely misguided and ignores the complicated role plastics continue to play in society. It seeks to pin blame on a single company for a global problem while absolving itself from any responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many states have instituted laws<\/a> requiring manufacturers to recycle, or otherwise safely dispose of waste products, California\u2019s lawsuit goes a step further. It seeks to hold a company liable for something that, as a large oil and gas producer, it is only indirectly responsible for. That makes it uniquely dangerous and potentially damaging to consumer interests since plastics have diverse applications<\/a> and continue to be widely used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes without saying that plastic waste is a serious problem that, in many ways, embodies the economic concept known as the tragedy of the commons<\/a> where individual actions can collectively lead to negative consequences. Every year, the U.S. produces millions of tons<\/a> of plastic, much of which ultimately ends up<\/a> in landfills, or in the worst cases, is discarded into the environment. California notes that only a small percentage of this plastic is recycled<\/a>, with the Environmental Protection Agency putting the number at about 9%<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, California has chosen to ding<\/a> Exxon for promoting advanced recycling technology<\/a> and endorsing the widely recognized recycling symbol<\/a> on its products. The state argues these actions have misled consumers into believing that if they properly dispose of products, they will be recycled, even though most current research<\/a> suggests this is not the case. But touting technological advances in recycling\u2014even when modest\u2014and encouraging people to recycle are good things, not bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The federal government has encouraged<\/a> recycling for decades and spends<\/a> millions annually on education campaigns such as<\/a> \u201cAmerica Recycles Day.\u201d For its part, California also continues to promote recycling and regularly passes<\/a> new rules and regulations to make the process easier for consumers. Whether these efforts are effective is a separate question, but Exxon is far from alone in embracing recycling as a solution to plastic waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes California\u2019s lawsuit against Exxon disingenuous. The state seems far more interested in going after the company simply because it is the world\u2019s largest<\/a> \u201crefiner and marketer\u201d of petrochemical products than it is concerned about solving the world\u2019s plastic pollution problem. Perhaps that\u2019s why the Golden State is seeking<\/a> \u201cmultiple billions of dollars\u201d in civil penalties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit also seems to neglect the enormous benefits that plastics have brought to ordinary people, including Californians. Despite ongoing challenges with recycling, plastics are attractive<\/a> because they are extremely versatile, cheap to manufacture, and possess many unique properties that make them preferable to alternative materials that are not always as practical to use or even better<\/a> for the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, there is a reason that plastics are known<\/a> as the \u201cmaterial with 1,000 uses.\u201d Today, over 6,000<\/a> consumer products rely on petrochemicals as a primary compound. They are found in items as mundane as milk cartons and shampoo bottles to lifesaving medical devices<\/a> and automobile seatbelts<\/a>. One would think that a state that claims to be concerned<\/a> that \u201cplastics are everywhere\u201d would at least attempt to understand why that is the case, and what makes the material so popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, that would require California to carefully weigh the pros and cons of plastics, something it has shown no interest in doing as it attempts to wean off oil and gas. California would do well to remember that solving global problems like plastic waste will require global efforts, efforts that are undermined each time it chooses to single out a company already committed<\/a> to playing its part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate Scherer is a policy analyst with the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. For more information about the Institute, visit us at <\/em>www.TheAmericanConsumer.Org<\/em><\/a> or follow us on X @ConsumerPal<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article was originally published by RealClearEnergy and made available via RealClearWire.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The idea of\u00a0corporate social responsibility\u00a0is not new. For years, there has been a\u00a0push\u00a0for companies to act in a more socially responsible manner, specifically as it relates to\u00a0environmental stewardship. While environmental stewardship is important, concerns about sustainability must be balanced carefully with consumer interests. The nation\u2019s most populous state increasingly appears to have forgotten this important fact.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691832524,691818068,691818739,691819194,691819148],"class_list":["post-361141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-america-recycles-day","tag-california","tag-environmental-protection-agency","tag-exxonmobil","tag-oil-and-gas","has-post-thumbnail","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1vWR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":432864,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=432864","url_meta":{"origin":361141,"position":0},"title":"Vanguard\u2019s Texas settlement matters far beyond coal","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"21\/03\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Under the deal, Vanguard commits to pursue engagement and proxy voting solely to further investors\u2019 long-term returns. It also agrees that it will not attempt to direct portfolio companies\u2019 strategies or advocate for steps to reduce carbon emissions, nominate directors, submit shareholder proposals, solicit proxies, or threaten to sell holdings\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-dioxide-co%e2%82%82"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0ESG-Investment-businessman.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0ESG-Investment-businessman.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0ESG-Investment-businessman.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0ESG-Investment-businessman.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0ESG-Investment-businessman.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":253769,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=253769","url_meta":{"origin":361141,"position":1},"title":"CFACT sponsors drinking well in Kharpudi Village, India","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"20\/04\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"As part of CFACT\u2019s International Stewardship in Action program, the Committee helped fund a drinking water well project in Kharpudi Village in India. Partnering with local volunteer Pastor Ramesh Ghodke, CFACT helped organize the construction of the well, which is located in the district of Jalna City in the State\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"India\"","block_context":{"text":"India","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=india"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-378-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-378-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-378-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0image-378-1024x768-1.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":202023,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=202023","url_meta":{"origin":361141,"position":2},"title":"BlackRock CEO Larry Fink responds to CFACT question at shareholders meeting","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"29\/05\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"SAN FRANCISCO, CA JULY 1, 2018: BlackRock financial services logo outside of office in San Francisco At BlackRock\u2019s annual meeting of shareholders CEO Larry Fink was confronted with a question by CFACT on the highly controversial use of ESG scoring (Environmental, Social, and Governance) by the investing giant. CFACT asked:\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0BlackRock.jpg?fit=799%2C599&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0BlackRock.jpg?fit=799%2C599&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0BlackRock.jpg?fit=799%2C599&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0BlackRock.jpg?fit=799%2C599&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":248493,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=248493","url_meta":{"origin":361141,"position":3},"title":"Woke Enron at the End","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"18\/03\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"We believe that incorporating environmental and social considerations into the way we manage risk, govern our projects, and develop products and services will help us maintain our competitive advantage. As we move forward, we will leverage our intellectual capital and innovative capabilities to promote sustainable business practices around the world.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-708.png?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-708.png?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-708.png?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-708.png?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-708.png?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":431474,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=431474","url_meta":{"origin":361141,"position":4},"title":"\u201cThese People are Crazy:\u201d Climate Science and the Cult of Self-Loathing","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"15\/03\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"There was a time when environmental stewardship meant conservation grounded in gratitude rather than condemnation. It reflected a belief that a prosperous and confident society could protect its natural inheritance without repudiating the very progress that made such protection possible. The American conservation tradition grew from strength, not shame. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon footprints\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon footprints","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-footprints"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI-1.jpeg?fit=1041%2C949&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI-1.jpeg?fit=1041%2C949&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI-1.jpeg?fit=1041%2C949&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI-1.jpeg?fit=1041%2C949&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":432966,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=432966","url_meta":{"origin":361141,"position":5},"title":"\u201cThese People are Crazy\u201d climate science and the cult of self-loathing","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"21\/03\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"There was a time when environmental stewardship meant conservation grounded in gratitude rather than condemnation. It reflected a belief that a prosperous and confident society could protect its natural inheritance without repudiating the very progress that made such protection possible. The American conservation tradition grew from strength, not shame. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Anti-Science\"","block_context":{"text":"Anti-Science","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=anti-science"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQM0bvOjTxc5ziIDjYhjd9X5via4InhknEa2BUwwsU3nz9A9SC9zlI4Kx9krFPJPAJNf1PkaCNEejWfD3uA2kKiSB3K0K0ZiYAdfFaQYCDR8Re8VGpnEqHOWp5Uc3NKa8QtFjFABAjswLP7RmkkjOwPaw5hVtA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQM0bvOjTxc5ziIDjYhjd9X5via4InhknEa2BUwwsU3nz9A9SC9zlI4Kx9krFPJPAJNf1PkaCNEejWfD3uA2kKiSB3K0K0ZiYAdfFaQYCDR8Re8VGpnEqHOWp5Uc3NKa8QtFjFABAjswLP7RmkkjOwPaw5hVtA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQM0bvOjTxc5ziIDjYhjd9X5via4InhknEa2BUwwsU3nz9A9SC9zlI4Kx9krFPJPAJNf1PkaCNEejWfD3uA2kKiSB3K0K0ZiYAdfFaQYCDR8Re8VGpnEqHOWp5Uc3NKa8QtFjFABAjswLP7RmkkjOwPaw5hVtA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQM0bvOjTxc5ziIDjYhjd9X5via4InhknEa2BUwwsU3nz9A9SC9zlI4Kx9krFPJPAJNf1PkaCNEejWfD3uA2kKiSB3K0K0ZiYAdfFaQYCDR8Re8VGpnEqHOWp5Uc3NKa8QtFjFABAjswLP7RmkkjOwPaw5hVtA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQM0bvOjTxc5ziIDjYhjd9X5via4InhknEa2BUwwsU3nz9A9SC9zlI4Kx9krFPJPAJNf1PkaCNEejWfD3uA2kKiSB3K0K0ZiYAdfFaQYCDR8Re8VGpnEqHOWp5Uc3NKa8QtFjFABAjswLP7RmkkjOwPaw5hVtA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361141","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=361141"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":361144,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361141\/revisions\/361144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=361141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=361141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=361141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}