The climate of planet earth is in grave danger. Despite the voices of those who choose to ignore the mounting evidence of this crisis, more people are aware of it now than ever before. Along with this increased awareness has come expanded agreement that action is needed now to address what is now a climate emergency. This past November, eleven thousand scientists from around the globe united in warning all of us that immediate and immense effort is required if we are to have any hope of preventing the widespread suffering that will occur if we fail to act.
In many ways, it appears as though we are well on our way to addressing the problem of global climate change. After all, we have made impressive gains in developing renewable energy, and we continue to pursue energy efficiency in leaps and bounds. Despite all the movement in the right direction, fossil fuel emissions around the world continued to increase for the third consecutive year. While we must continue to develop wind, solar, and other proven renewable energy resources, we must also be vigilant in stopping activities that lead to increased carbon emissions. Some of the activities that must be addressed are, in fact, illegal, and corruption and crime have been exposed within the timber industry as well as the petroleum production industry.
Whistleblowers and would-be whistleblowers who work in the timber, oil, gas, and other energy industries are in a position to expose crime and corruption from within their industries. When crime and corruption are exposed, they can be stopped. For example, fossil fuel companies have long known the climate-change risks associated with their products. Recent testimony given before Congress revealed a campaign by the petroleum industry to create confusion and disseminate disinformation about the climate change risks associated with their products. The campaign is eerily similar to the tactics used by the tobacco industry to confuse and misinform the public about the health risks associated with their products.
There is also the possibility of pursuing claims of actionable fraud against petroleum companies. There are at least a few companies who claim they are moving forward in a way that will comply with the Paris Agreement while at the same time funding infrastructure projects that will not help them accomplish that. As petroleum companies are slow to work toward the change they claim they are making, the climate is also being assaulted by carbon emissions from illegal logging operations in countries where corrupt governments and weak environmental laws are failing to stop them. Actionable fraud and other types of whistleblower cases that could be brought against petroleum and timber companies could be effective in preventing activities that contribute to climate change if they result in meaningful sanctions against the responsible parties.
Whistleblower protection attorneys are potent allies in the face of painful retaliation. If you have experienced retaliation as the result of reporting safety, health, financial, or other concerns, call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney of Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 for an initial consultation.