ExxonMobil says it’s taking climate change seriously — seriously

Guess who said this about climate change: “We know enough now — or, society knows enough now — that the risk is serious and action should be taken.” No, not some dirty hippie, but an executive from oil behemoth ExxonMobil. (Ow, our jaw!) Greenhouse-gas reduction has become a theme of Exxon’s advertising, and the company is participating in an analysis by green think tank Resources for the Future of government options for addressing climate change. An Exxon spokesflack declares that the company’s position on climate change has been “widely misunderstood,” but we understand this: carbon caps will likely come around the bend sooner or later, and it behooves Exxon to have a say in how they’re structured. While the oil giant still declines to declare climate change certain and continues to oppose the Kyoto Protocol, the company appears to have had a change of heart. And by change of heart, we mean still lookin’ out for number one. Or have we misunderstood again?