Corporate Capture Fact Sheet #2: Oil & Gas Industry

Download the Fact Sheet here.

The climate crisis we are currently facing is largely a product of the notoriously profit-hungry fossil fuel industry. They knew about the climate risks 60 years ago and spent billions to cover up the truth, all to protect their profits.

The fossil fuel industry has proved willing to do just about anything to protect its bottom line - including threatening the very existence of our planet and covering up the reality of this ongoing destruction.

The industry has amassed a significant level of power and influence through its strategic campaign spending and extensive lobbying operations. In the last decade, oil and gas interests have spent over $1.5 billion lobbying the federal government and put over $529 million towards influencing the outcome of elections. And that's just the money we know about.The industry also works to place industry-friendly figures in key government roles.

​This unchecked political influence has allowed the industry to evade accountability and manipulate the government into prioritizing industry profits above public interest - endangering our water, air, health, safety and the very existence of our planet.

Read our Oil & Gas Industry Fact Sheet to learn more about how the industry exercises its influence over government, to explore concrete examples of the real-world harm this has caused, and to see an overview of key policy solutions.

To learn even more about corporate capture and our recommended legislative & policy solutions, visit our Capitol, Inc. Campaign website and read our full Policy Memo.