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Respondents were duly notified of the Petition filed concerning them and were strongly
enjoined to participate in our hearings.
All the hearings were transparent and public, even cast live over the internet.
Teleconferencing facilities were set-up to enable parties and witnesses of all sides, even
from other parts of the world, to participate in the Inquiry.
Testimonial and documentary evidence were received in a very organized manner, all of
which were open to challenge by those who had interests in doing so.
Witnesses and resource persons were put under oath and, after giving their direct
testimonies, were subjected to examination by the Inquiry Panel members, in the absence
of Respondents, who, despite every opportunity to challenge the witnesses, chose not to
exercise this right.
Documentary exhibits were properly identified and marked.
The public hearings we conducted in North America (in the United States) and
Europe (in the United Kingdom) were not only a matter of underscoring the global nature
of climate change and the global character of the dialogue we sought to pursue. It was a
matter of “due process” as well–that is, if the Carbon Majors domiciled in other parts of
the globe were not willing to come to our country, then we were willing to come to their
regions to encourage them to participate in our processes.
We offered to engage with Respondents in special meetings, too, if that was what it would
take to hear their position on the issues. For example, in our visit to the Netherlands to
participate in a forum held at one of the top business universities in that region, we took
the opportunity to especially invite one of them to a dialogue–closed door, if necessary.
Considering all the foregoing, it would be an understatement to say that we have endeavored
to reach out to the Respondents. We have, indeed, provided every opportunity within our
resources to enable all the parties to dialogue with us.
Beyond the public hearings, we participated in forums and held consultations in other
parts of the globe, such as Oslo, Geneva, Bangkok, Sydney, Bonn and Berlin in Germany,