We are used to Arnie’s muscle winning the day in Hollywood block-busters, but now it seems that the California’s Governor has won a different victory. He has managed to split the once united front of the oil companies on climate change.
The LA Times has reported how: “Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s pledge to fight global warming has opened a rift as wide as the Atlantic Ocean between two groups of oil companies in California”.
The paper reports how Arnie’s “high-profile initiative” is supported by the “European” oil companies such as BP and Shell, but opposed by U.S. companies such as Chevron and Exxon Mobil. “The row threatens to weaken the industry’s legendary unity in lobbying on air quality rules, gasoline taxes and highway funding”, argues paper.
So it comes as no surprise that Exxon, ever the climate change dinosour, is against measures on climate change and BP and Shell are more supportive. But ten years ago the companies were united on the issue, and now they are divided.
And you know how the saying goes: United we Stand, Divided We Fall.