Exxon Former CEO Says Climate Change ‘With Us Forever More’

Company knew for long time impact of fossil fuels on world
Push for better quality of life means more energy use, he says

Rex Tillerson departs from state court in New York on Oct. 30, 2019. — Rex Tillerson departs from state court in New York on Oct. 30, 2019.
Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg

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By Erik Larson

October 31, 2019 at 3:59 PM UTC

Updated on

October 31, 2019 at 6:24 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

It’s rare for a current or former leader of one of the world’s largest energy firms to testify under oath about climate change. That’s why a New York courtroom was packed on Wednesday to see ex-Exxon Mobil Corp. Chief Executive Officer Rex Tillerson take the witness stand and explain, in the context of a securities-fraud trial, that the company knew for years how global warming was a significant threat.

“We knew, we knew it was a real issue,” said Tillerson, 67. “We knew it was a serious issue and we knew it was one that’s going to be with us now, forevermore, and it’s not something that was just suddenly going to disappear off of our concern list because it is going to be with us for certainly well beyond my lifetime.”