US oil giant ExxonMobil is deliberately undermining scientific consensus on global warming by funding organisations that mislead the public. This according to the Royal Society, the prestigious club of extraordinary men and women of science in Britain.

The Royal Society said about 39 organisations received money totalling US$  2.9 million from ExxonMobil in 2005 to misrepresent scientific knowledge about climate change by exaggerating uncertainties or issuing "outright denial."

The Society named the International Policy Network (IPN) as one of those organisations that received
$130,000 from ExxonMobil in 2005. IPN called the global call to limit greenhouse gas emissions as unnecessary and would only halt development.

ExxonMobil countered by saying the Royal Society has "inaccurately and unfairly described our company". The company claims it funds organisations that "research significant policy issues and promote informed discussion on issues of direct relevance to the company."

Unlike British Petroleum and Shell, ExxonMobil refused to invest in alternative energy. The company reported record-high profits of more than US $10 billion in Summer 2006 - or US$ 1,318 per second during their second quarter alone. ExxonMobil is also noted for the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Its ship Exxon Valdez spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil in Prince William Sound in Alaska.