Exxon and AGU; Denying Deniers A Platform Alan Robock Department of Environmental Sciences Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey robock@envsci.rutgers.edu http://envsci.rutgers.edu/~robock

Program for 2005 Fall AGU Meeting Full-page Ad in Program for 2005 Fall AGU Meeting

ExxonMobil Morning Mixer for Students 2006 AGU Fall Meeting ExxonMobil Morning Mixer for Students Wednesday, 13 December Marriott Hotel, Salon 9 0630h–0745h A complimentary breakfast will be held in honor of all graduate and undergraduate students registered for the meeting. Students will have the opportunity to hear an overview of AGU programs that serve its student members, meet with AGU leadership and representatives from ExxonMobil, and network with other students and future colleagues attending the meeting. http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm06/index.html@content=outreach

AGU Executive Director Fred Spilhaus apologized for the ExxonMobil Student Breakfast and agreed that it violated AGU policy: Acceptance by AGU of a gift does not imply AGU's endorsement of the donor's policies, or products, nor does it imply that AGU will exert any influence to advance the donor's interests outside the substance of the gift itself. Donors may not use the gift for promotional purposes unless approved in advance and in writing by the AGU Council.” [emphasis added] AGU Council voted to end the ExxonMobil Student Breakfast, but a number of Council Members disagreed!

[Jan 6, 2016]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/science/exxon-mobil-rockefellers-climate-change.html

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/11/06/science/exxon-mobil-global-warming-statements-climate-change.html

Posted online October 24, 2016, published in Eos, December 1, 2016

Eos, December 1, 2016

it is even more important for AGU to stand up for climate science. Now in the Trumpocene, it is even more important for AGU to stand up for climate science.

Even though this year Exxon chose not to contribute to the student breakfast, it is still AGU policy to accept donations from Exxon to support, although no longer control, the Student Breakfast, in the vain hope that AGU can engage Exxon to change its ways. But Exxon has not changed in the past 10 years. I suggest, as scientists, that we perform an experiment and stop taking Exxon money, with an attendant large-scale publicity campaign. Even if Exxon does not change, this can only help AGU and make a strong statement to help our planet.