Institute - sought to intervene in the case on the side of the U.S. government because the associations’ members “would have to substantially overhaul their business and business models to survive in the event plaintiffs prevail.”143 The fossil fuel and energy industry associations were granted the ability to participate in the proceedings and now have the status as intervenordefendants.144 There is a close relationship between government policies and practices allowing the extraction, sale, and combustion of fossil fuels and the business activities and practices of fossil fuel companies. In these proceedings, the Petitioners are seeking a thorough investigation in Carbon Major Respondents’ business activities and practices. Successful government policies and practices on climate change are contingent on the corporate transparency, cooperation, and leadership in reducing emissions. b.2. Challenging corporate action or inaction concerning climate threats b.2.1. Securities Fraud, Consumer Protection, and Environmental Laws: State Attorneys General investigations into Exxon and potentially others for misleading the public and investors about the threats of climate change In September 2015 InsideClimate News reported that in 1978, a senior Exxon scientist informed managers and other company scientists of the likely catastrophic climate change implications of fossil fuel consumption, but in the decades that followed, Exxon chose to work “at the forefront of climate denial.”145 In October 2015, the Los Angeles Times reported that there is evidence that while Exxon “sought to downplay the certainty of global warming,” and Exxon and Imperial Oil were “closely studying the impact of climate change on the company’s operations.”146 In April 2016, the Center for International Environmental Law released hundreds of new documents demonstrating that the oil industry was explicitly warned of climate risks in the 1960s. Significantly, much of this research was carried out as part of a broader industry effort—dating from the 1940s—to use industry-funded research to spur public skepticism of pollution science and environmental regulations.”147 With mounting evidence of Exxon’s early !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 143 Juliana v. U.S., supra note 141 at 5. Juliana et. al v. United States of America, Order, 6:15-cv-1517-TC, Jan. 14, 2016, http://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/sites/default/files/16.01.14.OrderGrantingMotiontoIntervene.pdf (last accessed on Apr. 19, 2016). 145 N. Banerjee, L. Song, and D. Hasemyer, Exxon: The Road Not Taken, InsideClimate News, Sept. 16, 2015, http://insideclimatenews.org/content/Exxon-The-Road-Not-Taken (last accessed on Apr. 19, 2016). 146 S. Jerving, K. Jennings, M.M. Hirsch, and S. Rust, Los Angles Times, What Exxon knew about the Earth’s melting Arctic, Oct. 9, 2015, http://graphics.latimes.com/exxon-arctic/ (last accessed on Apr. 19, 2016). 147 Center for International Environmental Law, Press Release, New Documents Reveal Oil Industry Knew of Climate Risks Decades Earlier Than Suspected; Suggest Coordinated Efforts to Foster Skepticism, Apr. 13, 2016, http://www.ciel.org/news/smoke-and-fumes/ (last accessed on Apr. 19, 2016). 144 ! 43! ! ! ! ! !