ExxonMobil controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile15 entries
2026
ExxonMobil fined £267,000 over flammable gas leaks at Scottish plant
Fine or penalty
ExxonMobil Chemical Limited was fined £267,000 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court after admitting breaches of the Health and Safety Act 1974 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 related to five leaks of highly flammable hydrocarbons at the former Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran between 2018 and 2019. The HSE said the leaks were caused by corrosion under insulation and that the inspection system was not fit for purpose.
Company response
Remediation — ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd
We accept full responsibility for the failures identified and have since made significant changes to how we inspect and manage corrosion risk across our operations
Investigation — ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd
We co-operated fully with the HSE throughout its investigation, including complying with all notices served, and commissioned an independent assessment.
Source excerpt
An investigation found the company had been aware of one pipe leaking the substances, which are irritable to the eyes and harmful if ingested, for four months while workers were on site without taking action.
The HSE noted the company had since made the required repairs.
Petrochemicals giant ExxonMobil has been fined £267,000 over leaks of dangerous substances caused by corroded piping at its plant in Fife.
2024
Baytown environmental-law penalties
A federal appeals court affirmed reduced civil penalties connected with alleged violations at ExxonMobil's Baytown refinery and chemical facilities.
2023
Multnomah County sues ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, NW Natural and others over climate damages
Lawsuit filed
Multnomah County filed a lawsuit seeking nearly $52 billion from more than a dozen major oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, and NW Natural, as well as industry lobbyists and McKinsey & Company. The suit seeks to hold the defendants responsible for climate change impacts affecting the county, including the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome.
Multnomah County filed a nearly $52 billion lawsuit against more than a dozen major oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, and NW Natural, as well as industry lobbyists and McKinsey & Company, seeking to hold them responsible for climate change impacts including the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome.
Source excerpt
Multnomah County’s lawsuit, filed in 2023 and amended in 2024 to add new defendants, is more than 200 pages long
Multnomah County’s lawsuit names companies including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, and NW Natural, as well as industry lobbyists and the consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
2022
Oil companies’ board members declined climate hearing invitations
Issue disclosure
An opinion article reports that board members of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell and BP declined invitations to appear at a U.S. House hearing on the companies’ climate pledges. Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney said the companies had advertised their climate plans and greenwashed their images; this is an allegation, not a formal finding.
Source excerpt
when the committee invited board members of these companies to come in today and explain their pledges, they declined to appear on the date we requested.
Perhaps worried about their deception being exposed, the executives and board members of these fossil fuel companies snubbed members of Congress at a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on February 8, 2022.
these companies "have spent millions to advertise these plans [to combat climate change] and greenwash their images."
2022
Public criticism of ExxonMobil’s net-zero pledge
Public backlash
ExxonMobil announced a net-zero emissions goal for its operations by 2050, excluding customer-use emissions. The pledge drew criticism from an academic and online users, with some calling the plan bogus.
Source excerpt
The American oil and gas corporation estimated it released about 762 million tons of greenhouse gasses in 2020 - 650 million was from consumption and 112 million tons from operations.
ExxonMobile on Tuesday pledged to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the hopes of catching up with its rivals like Shell and BP that have already made the commitment.
Tuesday's announcement also sparked fury among the public online, with many flocking to Twitter to callout the oil and gas company.
2021
ExxonMobil disclosed emissions from use of its energy products
Issue disclosure
In a 2021 disclosure, ExxonMobil reported the full extent of its Scope 3 emissions arising from the final use of its energy products. According to the source report, these emissions exceed Canada's annual national emissions. The disclosure concerns emissions generated when the company's energy products are used, rather than emissions from its own operations. The report presents the disclosure as the first time the company made public the emissions associated with oil and gas product use.
ExxonMobil disclosed the full extent of its Scope 3 emissions from the final use of its energy products; the article states these emissions exceed Canada's annual national emissions.
Source excerpt
ExxonMobil has disclosed the full extent of its Scope 3 (indirect) emissions from the final use of its energy products, which are more than Canada's national annual emissions.
2021
Fire at Exxon’s Baytown refinery injures four people
Safety incident
A fire occurred at Exxon Mobil’s Baytown facility in Texas, injuring four people. Exxon said the fire occurred in a unit that removes sulfur from refined products; the blaze was later reported under control and the injured workers were in stable condition.
Source excerpt
Four people have been injured in the fire that occurred at about 1 a.m. local time, according to Exxon.
Thursday’s fire occurred in a unit that removes sulfur from refined products such as gasoline, Exxon spokeswoman Julia King said in an emailed statement.
2021
Court approves Exxon Mobil settlement over Puerto Rico water pollution claims
Settlement
A Puerto Rico court approved a $25 million settlement resolving claims against Exxon Mobil Corporation and Esso Standard Oil Company over allegations that the companies polluted drinking water with gasoline additives. Exxon Mobil also agreed to create a program to investigate and clean up pollution at various locations around Puerto Rico.
Company response
Remediation — Exxon Mobil
2021
Annapolis sues fossil fuel companies over climate change
Lawsuit filed
The City of Annapolis filed a lawsuit against 26 oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and Shell, alleging that their conduct contributed to climate-change costs and consequences.
Source excerpt
The City of Annapolis is suing 26 oil and gas companies for what it calls the costs and consequences of climate change.
The city filed the lawsuit Monday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. It names some of the biggest fossil fuel companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and Shell.
The companies worked to deceive people of the danger, hiding their knowledge and engaging in an intentional campaign to mislead the public about the science, proving the growing danger posed by fossil fuels.
2020
ExxonMobil apologizes after intense flaring at Fife plant
Company response
ExxonMobil management issued an apology following intense flaring at its Fife chemical plant, an incident that caused alarm within the local community. The company's statement acknowledged the community's concern over the flaring event. The apology was reported in February 2020. No further details on the cause, duration, or consequences of the flaring were provided in the source.
ExxonMobil bosses apologized after intense flaring at a Fife chemical plant sparked alarm in the community.
Company response
Apology — ExxonMobil
BOSSES at ExxonMobil have apologised after "intense flaring" at a Fife chemical plant sparked alarm in the community.
Source excerpt
BOSSES at ExxonMobil have apologised after "intense flaring" at a Fife chemical plant sparked alarm in the community.
2020
Minnesota files climate-related consumer fraud suit against ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and API
Lawsuit filed
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute. The suit alleges that the defendants misled Minnesotans about the role fossil fuels play in causing the climate crisis. The source reports the allegations made in the filing and does not state that a court has reached any determination on them.
Stated objective. Seek restitution and civil penalties for damages the state says it suffered due to climate change.
Company response
Denial — Exxon
"These lawsuits have no merit and do nothing to advance meaningful efforts that address climate change," said Exxon spokesman Casey Norton.
Denial — Shell
Shell is "disappointed" by the suit and believes climate change requires "inclusive action from all business sectors, including ours," said spokeswoman Anna Arata.
Denial — American Petroleum Institute
The industry provides affordable energy "while substantially reducing emissions," said Paul Afonso, API's chief legal officer, adding that the suit is "meritless."
Denial — ExxonMobil
“These lawsuits have no merit and do nothing to advance meaningful efforts that address climate change,” Casey Norton, a spokesperson for ExxonMobil, said in an emailed response to the new lawsuit.
Source excerpt
On Wednesday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute (API), the leading US oil and gas industry trade association.
The suit alleges that the two companies and the trade association violated state consumer protection laws by misleading Minnesotans about the role fossil fuels play in causing the climate crisis.
The lawsuit said Exxon Mobil Corp, BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell and industry group the American Petroleum Institute "have systematically and intentionally misled consumers" through fuel sales at branded stations as "cleaner" and "emissions-reducing" while not disclosing climate impacts.
2019
Massachusetts attorney general sues ExxonMobil over alleged consumer and investor deception
Lawsuit filed
In 2019, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sued ExxonMobil, alleging that the company misled consumers and investors about the role its products play in climate change. The lawsuit alleges violations of state consumer and investor protection laws. The allegations are presented as claims in the suit and are not presented as a court determination.
Source excerpt
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is suing ExxonMobil, alleging the oil giant is misleading consumers and investors about the role the company's products play in climate change.
The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that the company’s “deception campaign” is ongoing and violates state consumer and investor protection laws.
"ExxonMobil's relentless 'greenwashing' marketing campaign targets consumers with messaging regarding ExxonMobil's purported environmental stewardship, corporate leadership in the realm of environmental and climate protection, and innovative clean energy research, while failing to disclose that ExxonMobil is spending little on clean energy development, and instead is secretly opposing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emission and ramping up production of fill fuels that cause climate change," the 211-page complaint states.
2019
Massachusetts judge allows lawsuit against Exxon to proceed
Ruling
A Massachusetts judge gave the state's attorney general the green light to sue ExxonMobil over allegations that it concealed from investors and consumers its knowledge of fossil fuels' role in climate change. The ruling allowed the attorney general to file the lawsuit; it did not determine the allegations.
Source excerpt
A Massachusetts judge on Thursdaygave the state's attorney general the greenlight to sue ExxonMobil Corp "ASAP" over allegations it concealed frominvestors and consumers its knowledge of the role fossil fuelsplay in climate change.
2015
Climate-change disclosure and denial controversy
ExxonMobil faced investigations, lawsuits, and public criticism concerning allegations that it understood climate risks internally while supporting public positions and communications that challenged or minimized aspects of the scientific consensus.
1989
Exxon Valdez oil spill
The Exxon Valdez tanker spill in Alaska caused extensive ecological damage and generated prolonged litigation, cleanup obligations, and reputational harm. The incident predates the ExxonMobil merger but remains part of the Exxon corporate legacy.