President Donald Trump's administration has been contacting U.S. energy companies to ask them about their views on the U.N. global climate accord, according to two sources with knowledge of the effort, a sign Trump is reconsidering his 2016 campaign pledge to back out of the deal.
The sources, who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the subject, said many of the companies reached by the administration had said they would prefer the U.S. remain in the pact, but would also support reducing the U.S. commitments in the deal.
The accord, agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015, would limit planetary warming in part by slashing carbon dioxide and other emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. As part of the deal, the U.S. committed to reducing its emissions by between 26% and 28% below 2005 levels by 2025.
The sources did not name the companies contacted.
One of the sources said the companies were "publicly traded fossil fuel companies," and added the White House would consider their input in making a decision on the Paris accord shortly. The source said the White House has been leading the discussions with the fossil fuel companies and the State Department, which represents the United States in climate negotiations, had not taken part.
A White House official declined to comment.
Trump has called climate change a hoax and vowed during his campaign for the White House to pull the U.S. out of the Paris deal, claiming it would be too costly for the U.S. economy.
Since being elected he has been mostly quiet on the issue. In a New York Times interview in November he said he would keep an open mind about the Paris deal. He and members of his family and inner circle also met with climate change advocate and former Vice President Al Gore in December.
Officials for Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Peabody Energy Corp and others did not immediately comment when asked about whether they had been contacted by the White House about the Paris accord.
But several, including Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, have expressed public support for the pact.
Recommended Reading
Exxon, Chevron Tapping Permian for Output Growth in ‘24
2024-02-02 - Exxon Mobil and Chevron plan to tap West Texas and New Mexico for oil and gas production growth in 2024, the U.S. majors reported in their latest earnings.
Chesapeake Slashing Drilling Activity, Output Amid Low NatGas Prices
2024-02-20 - With natural gas markets still oversupplied and commodity prices low, gas producer Chesapeake Energy plans to start cutting rigs and frac crews in March.
ConocoPhillips EVP of Strategy, Sustainability, Technology Macklon to Retire
2024-02-16 - Dominic Macklon, who began his career with Conoco in 1991, is set to retire ConocoPhillips May 1.
Hess Corp. Boosts Bakken Output, Drilling Ahead of Chevron Merger
2024-01-31 - Hess Corp. increased its drilling activity and output from the Bakken play of North Dakota during the fourth quarter, the E&P reported in its latest earnings.
CEO: Magnolia Hunting Giddings Bolt-ons that ‘Pack a Punch’ in ‘24
2024-02-16 - Magnolia Oil & Gas plans to boost production volumes in the single digits this year, with the majority of the growth coming from the Giddings Field.